The proper cuff and bladder size used in the assessment of blood pressure is important for accurate measurement. The use of a cuff that is too short and narrow for a given arm results in erroneously high blood pressure measurement. Use of a cuff that is too large results in erroneously low blood pressure measures.
Why is it important to use the right size blood pressure cuff?
Your doctor's office should have several sizes of cuffs to ensure an accurate blood pressure reading. Also, when you measure your blood pressure at home, it's important to use the proper size cuff. Having a properly fitting cuff is important because poorly fitting cuffs won't give accurate blood pressure measurements.
What happens if my blood pressure cuff is too small?
Using a blood pressure cuff that's too large or too small can give you inaccurate blood pressure readings. Your doctor's office should have several sizes of cuffs to ensure an accurate blood pressure reading.
How do I determine what size cuff should I use?
Using the sizing chart below, determine what size cuff should be used based on the measurement reading. If a patient’s cm measurement is overlapping between sizes, default to the larger cuff if width is appropriate.
What is the minimum arm cuff length that can be used?
Example: If a patient has a 40 cm arm circumference, 80% of the arm circumference is 0.8 x 40 cm = 32 cm. The minimum cuff length that can be used for this person is 32 cm, which is a large adult cuff. Once you have purchased the correct devices, get organized with our device inventory and management tools .
Why does cuff size matter?
Using the wrong size cuff can lead to incorrect blood pressure readings and misdiagnosis, according to new research. People with obesity – who need large or extra-large blood pressure cuffs – were at particularly high risk for inaccurate readings if using the wrong cuff size.
What happens if you use the wrong size blood pressure cuff?
You're using the wrong-sized cuff A BP cuff that is too large will give falsely low readings, while an overly small cuff will provide readings that are falsely high. The American Heart Association publishes guidelines for blood pressure measurement [2].
Why should you always check cuff size in relation to the arm of your patient?
Blood pressure cuffs must be the correct size for the patient's arm to ensure the reading is accurate. LifeLong Health explains that a cuff that is too small will give a falsely high reading; whereas a cuff that is too large will give a falsely low reading.
How does the nurse determine the correct size of cuff to use?
The ideal cuff bladder length is ≥ 80 percent of the patient's arm circumference. The ideal cuff bladder width is ≥ 40 percent of the patient's arm circumference. *Many devices are sold with variable size cuffs that will fit a majority of arms from the small adult to large adult range.
How do you know if a blood pressure cuff is the right size?
Divide the distance in half to locate the mid-upper arm. Wrap a tape measure around the mid-upper arm to determine arm circumference (typically measured in centimeters). Based on arm circumference, determine the cuff size that is appropriate.
What size of blood pressure cuff should I use?
Recommended Cuff Sizes for Accurate Measurement of Blood PressurePatientRecommended cuff size22 to 26 cm12 × 22 cm (small adult)27 to 34 cm16 × 30 cm (adult)35 to 44 cm16 × 36 cm (large adult)45 to 52 cm16 × 42 cm (adult thigh)5 more rows•Oct 1, 2005
Does a tight cuff affect blood pressure?
Blood Pressure Cuff Placement Improper placement of the cuff over clothing can cause your blood pressure measurement to increase by 10 to 50 points. If the cuff is too small, it can add 2 to 10 points to your bp measurement.
Does position of cuff affect blood pressure?
“On average, individuals who required an extra-large cuff based on their measured mid-arm circumference had a blood pressure of 143.9/86.5 mm Hg when a regular adult cuff was used, which is a measurement in the range for a diagnosis of stage 2 hypertension.
How should the nurse ensure proper BP cuff size for the upper extremity?
Rationale: Positioning the cuff bladder directly over the brachial artery ensures that proper pressure is applied during inflation. Ensure the fully deflated cuff is wrapped evenly and snugly around the patient's upper arm.
What does cuff size mean?
0:051:38How to Find the Correct Size Blood Pressure Cuff - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can determine your cuff size with a simple arm measurement wrap a soft tape measure around yourMoreYou can determine your cuff size with a simple arm measurement wrap a soft tape measure around your arm at bicep level or halfway between the elbow and shoulder.
How would using the medium size BP cuff affect the accuracy of a blood pressure taken in a large or obese adult?
Conclusion. The results showed that, in obese surgical patients, blood pressure is measured inaccurately and found to be falsely high when measurements are not performed using a cuff properly sized for mid-upper arm circumference.
What is the cuff size?
The width of the bladder of the blood pressure cuff should be approximately 40% of the circumference of the upper arm midway between the olecranon and the acromion. The length of the bladder of the cuff should encircle 80 to 100% of the circumference of the upper arm at the same position.
Can a tight blood pressure cuff cause a high reading?
Improper placement of the cuff over clothing can cause your blood pressure measurement to increase by 10 to 50 points. If the cuff is too small, it can add 2 to 10 points to your bp measurement.
Can a loose blood pressure cuff causes a high reading?
A cuff that is too snug or too loose on the mid-upper arm can lead to greatly exaggerated blood pressure measurements, results of a community-based study show.
What causes a false high blood pressure reading?
Acute meal ingestion, caffeine or nicotine use can all negatively affect BP readings, leading to errors in measurement accuracy. If the patient has a full bladder, that can lead to an error in systolic BP of between 4 mm Hg and 33 mm Hg, compared with the white-coat effect can have an error of up to 26 mm Hg.
Can a blood pressure cuff cause a blood clot?
Although non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitoring is regarded as a safe procedure, blood pressure (BP) cuff can cause petechial rash, ecchymoses, venous stasis, thrombophlebitis [1,2], infection [3], hematoma formation in patients on anticoagulants [4], compartment syndrome [5], compressive neuropathy [2,6] and ...
How much area should a cuff cover?
The cuff should cover 80% of the area from your elbow to your shoulder. If you're concerned about the size of your cuff or your blood pressure readings, talk to your doctor. You may need to have your blood pressure taken several times during your visit using the same, properly sized cuff in the same arm. An average of these blood pressure readings ...
How much of the area should a blood pressure cuff cover?
The inflatable part of the blood pressure cuff should cover about 40% of the distance around (circumference of) your upper arm. The cuff should cover 80% of the area from your elbow to your shoulder.
Can a blood pressure cuff be too small?
Using a blood pressure cuff that's too large or too small can give you inaccurate blood pressure readings. Your doctor's office should have several sizes of cuffs to ensure an accurate blood pressure reading. When you measure your blood pressure at home, it's important to use the proper size cuff.
What is the width of a cuff?
The American Heart Association recommends a cuff bladder width of 40% of the arm circumference and a cuff bladder length of 80% of the arm circumference. This poster tells how to choose the right cuff, position it properly, and avoid common sources of BP monitoring error.
What is the width of a cuff bladder?
The American Heart Association recommends that a cuff bladder width be 40% of the arm circumference and that a cuff bladder length be 80% of the arm circumference.¹.
Where to measure arm circumference?
Wrap a tape measure around the patient's bicep, at mid-arm to determine the arm circumference (typically measured in cm).
Can you use a wrist cuff for blood pressure?
Devices with an upper arm cuff provide the most accurate blood pressure readings. Wrist cuffs should not be used unless the patient cannot use an upper arm cuff due to arm size being too large to fit a cuff or for medical reasons. Finger devices should never be used.
