All issues > Volume 29(8); 1986

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1986;29(8):819-829. Published online August 31, 1986.

A Study of Blood Pressure Measurement in Newborn Infants.

Yoon Deok Kim¹, Joong Whan Choi¹, Chong Ku Yun¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, college of medicine, Seoul, National University,Korea.

Abstract

The inability to detect Korotkoff sounds in infants have in the past made it difficult for most pediatricians to measure blood pressures by indirect conventional sphygmomanometry. Now, however, Korotkoff sounds, or the mechanical events which produce them, can be sensed with an ultrasonic Doppler device. The author measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure using a Doppler arteriokinetog raphic instrument during 6 to 24 hours of life on 180 normal full-term newborn infants born at Seoul University Hospital from May 1 to September 15, 1985. The follow-up BP measurements were performed on the second day from 128 newborns and on the fifth day from 72 newborns. The following results were obtained: 1) Brachial and Popliteal systolic blood pressures (mean±SD) at the age of 1 day, 2 days and 5 days were 59.3±8.2 mmHg, 61.4±9. 2mmHg, 73.8±8. 7mmHg(brachial) and 57.4±9. 8 mmHg, 62. 5±10.2 mmHg, 78.5±9.2 mmHg (popliteal) respectively. 2) Brachial and popliteal diastolic blood pressures (mean+SD) at the age of 1 day, 2days and 5 days were 38.1±7.2 mmHg, 41.2±8.4 mmHg, 50.6±7.6 mmHg, (brachial) and 41.8±9.6 mmHg, 42.7±7.8 mmHg, 52.8±7.5 mmHg, (popliteal) respectively. 3) Blood pressures measured at the age of 1 day or 2 days were not significantly different from male to female or from vaginally delivered babies to those delivered by elective cesarean sections. 4) Systolic and diastolic blood pressures at the age of 1 day correlated positively and significantly with birth weight. 5) Steady increases of blood pressures were noted during the first five days of life. 6) The differences of blood pressures between the upper and lower-extremity were less than 5 mmHg in every paired matches of systolic or diastolic pressures at the age of 1 day, 2 days and 5 days. 7) Blood pressures measured by the Flush method were lower than systolic blood pressures measured by the Doppler method at the age of 1 day (by 5.6 mmHg in the upper extremity and by 5.8 mmHg in the lower extremity).

Keywords :Blood pressure; Newborn infants.