Blood pressure measurement in childhood and adolescence. International recommendations and normal limits of blood pressure.
BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN CHILDREN SHOULD BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING RULES: 1. Resting period prior to readings should be about 5-10 minutes. In children under 5 years of age, lying position should be used. In older children sitting position is most suitable. 2. Either flush method or ultrasound technique should be used in newborn. Auscultatory blood pressure is suitable in other children. 3. Width of cuff should be based on circumference of the arm, and not on arm-length: (width = 120% of diameter = 40% of circumference, i.e., 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 cm). Length of cuff-bladder = circumference or more. 4. Diastolic blood pressure should be read at muffling of Korotkoff sounds (phase IV). 5. Although some agreement exists between different studies, it is obvious, that definition of "normal blood pressure" in children is dependent on the methodological factors involved in the measurement of blood pressure.
Nielsen
P E
PE
Dept. of Medicine, Frederikssund Sygehus, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Clausen
L R
LR
Olsen
C A
CA
Olsen
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012016:Reference Values