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Sphygmomanometer Cuff for the Newborn |
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| Authors: | Gerald A. Neligan Marcia C. Smith |
| Affiliation: | Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 2, and the Department of Child Health, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1. |
| Abstract: | A 'Standard' cuff of cloth and rubber, specified by the British Standards Institution as suitable for use in the newborn, was found to give readings 4–48 mm. Hg higher than those obtained with a specially constructed 'plastic' cuff, whose readings had previously been shown to correspond reasonably well with direct measurements. A newer specimen of the 'Standard' cuff gave readings 4–36 mm. Hg higher still. The range of variation between readings made after successive reapplications of the 'plastic' cuff was 0–4 mm. Hg and of the 'Standard' cuff 8–20 mm. Hg. The apparent spontaneous fluctuation of the systolic pressure in newborn babies at rest over periods of minutes was 0–12 mm. Hg (mean 5.1). There was little difference between the pressures recorded in the right and left arms of each of 10 babies. |
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