Accuracy and precision of oscillometric blood pressure in standing conscious horses.
BACKGROUND
Arterial blood pressure (BP) is a relevant clinical parameter that can be measured in standing conscious horses to assess tissue perfusion or pain. However, there are no validated oscillometric noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) devices for use in horses.


METHODS
Seven healthy horses from a teaching and research herd.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy and precision of systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in conscious horses obtained with an oscillometric NIBP device when compared to invasively measured arterial BP.


METHODS
An arterial catheter was placed in the facial or transverse facial artery and connected to a pressure transducer. A cuff for NIBP was placed around the tail base. The BP was recorded during normotension, dobutamine-induced hypertension, and subnormal BP induced by acepromazine administration. Agreement analysis with replicate measures was utilized to calculate bias (accuracy) and standard deviation (SD) of bias (precision).


RESULTS
A total of 252 pairs of invasive arterial BP and NIBP measurements were analyzed. Compared to the direct BP measures, the NIBP MAP had an accuracy of -4 mm Hg and precision of 10 mm Hg. SAP had an accuracy of -8 mm Hg and a precision of 17 mm Hg and DAP had an accuracy of -7 mm Hg and a precision of 14 mm Hg.


CONCLUSIONS
MAP from the evaluated NIBP monitor is accurate and precise in the adult horse across a range of BP, with higher variability during subnormal BP. MAP but not SAP or DAP can be used for clinical decision making in the conscious horse.
Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical sciences, University of Copenhagen.
Emil
E
Olsen
Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical sciences, University of Copenhagen.
Tilde Louise Skovgaard
TL
Pedersen
Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London.
Rebecca
R
Robinson
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Pia
P
Haubro Andersen
D000075:Acepromazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000662:veterinary*; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors / Q000662:veterinary*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000662:veterinary*
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D000075:Acepromazine
acepromazine; arterial blood pressure; dobutamine; equinen; oninvasive blood pressure