A comparison of direct and indirect (oscillometric) measurements of arterial blood pressure in anaesthetised dogs, using tail and limb cuffs.

Oscillometric measurements of arterial blood pressure were compared with direct measurements in anaesthetised dogs being monitored during routine surgery. Readings were obtained with tail cuffs and limb cuffs and the reproducibility (precision) of the readings from various cuff sites was also compared in conscious dogs. Tail cuffs gave the best precision in conscious dogs and the closest correlation with direct measurements in anaesthetised dogs, especially for systolic pressure. The proximal hindlimb site gave results with a slightly lower precision.