CONTINUOUS NONINVASIVE MONITORING OF ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The role of a finger blood pressure device (Finapres) in the monitoring of arterial blood pressure in the emergency department was evaluated by a follow-up of patients with either an ischemic heart disease, a respiratory disease, or drug overdose. The Finapres was successfully applied in the monitoring of 66 of 70 (94%) patients. Sudden changes (> 30 mm Hg systolic and > 10 mm Hg mean) in the arterial blood pressure were detected in 33 out of 70 patients. These changes occurred especially during cardiac arrhytmias and during the intravenous administration of nitroglycerin, morphine, and benzodiazepines. In 23 patients this change would have remained undetected in time by using only intermittent blood pressure measurements. Thus, continuous, nonivasive monitoring of blood pressure gave reliable and clinically relevant information about the changes in arterial blood pressure. Therefore, it should be considered for monitoring of patients with acute cardiac and respiratory problems in the emergency department.