All issues > Volume 30(11); 1987

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1987;30(11):1201-1206. Published online November 30, 1987.

Blood Pressure Change in the Neonates during Abdominal Examination.

Young Sun Kim¹, Yoon Deok Kim¹, Jung Hwan Choi¹, Chong Ku Yun¹, Son Moon Shin²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pediatries, College of Medicine, Young Nam University

Abstract

During abdominal palpation in the 50 full term neonates, blood pressure changes were measured by automatic oscillometric blood pressure monitor. The systolic blood pressure value at resting stage was 61.2 ±2.9 mmHg, and during the liver, the left kidney and the bladder palpation, it was signifi- cantly elevated to 67.2±4.7 mmHg, 68.1 ±4.8 mmHg, 69.0±4.6 mmHg respectively (P< 0.005). The diastoloic pressure value at resting stage was 35.2 ±3.1 mmHg, and during the liver, the left kidney and the bladder palpation, it was significantly elevated to 37.8±3.8 mmHg, 39.1 ±3.9 mmHg, 39.6±3.8 mmHg respectively (P< 0.005). Elevation of blood pressure during palpation of the viscera (liver, kidney, bladder) may be secondary to increased intra-abdominal pressure, and may be influenced by increased venous return and intrathoracic pressure. The fact that autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is lacking in the premature infants with birth asphyxia or idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome will render the capillary walls more directly exposed to an eventual increase in arterial blood pressure. So maintenance of normal blood pressure is very important, especially in the critically ill neonates. And abdominal palpation must be performed more cautiously.

Keywords :Newborn; Blood Pressure; Abdominal Examination