title: Measuring blood pressure using the mercury sphygmomanometer.
abstract: Automated blood pressure devices have been embraced by clinicians for their convenience and ease of use. However, the pressure to remove mercury-containing medical devices is leading to the demise of the mercury sphygmomanometer and the loss of manual blood pressure measurement skills. The article argues that there is still a place for the mercury sphygmomanometer, particularly when a clinical decision is based on the blood pressure readings. It presents a review of the available literature to explain the rationale for the use of manual sphygmomanometry and gives a step-by-step guide to the procedure with current supporting evidence. There is a brief discussion of special considerations when dealing with certain client groups. Normal blood pressure ranges for adults and children have been included along with a definition of hypertension for both groups.
authors.affiliation: University of Central England, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valler-Jones
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wedgbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D019722:Sphygmomanometers