Non-invasive measurement of peripheral, central and 24 hour blood pressure in patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist device

Abstract

In continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) patients, blood pressure (BP) measurement outside the intensive care unit (ICU) relies on non-invasive methods such as automated oscillometric BP monitors and Doppler. However, the success rate of automated monitors is low due to the reduction in arterial pulse pressure (PP),1 and Doppler readings are limited to a single BP number, making it difficult to determine which BP component (i.e., systolic BP [SBP] or mean arterial pressure [MAP]) is being measured.