Matthew99 Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 I always wanted to know, does the systolic start from the moment you can HEAR anything, or from the moment where the indicator starts to jitter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneEMTP Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Auscultation is all audio. Following the bouncing needle will put you off into the ditch. I absolutely get where you're coming from though. Intuitively it seems that the bounce of the needle should have some correspondence to the reading of the systolic b/p, and it probably does, just not in any way that is useful to you. Good question. Dwayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERBIE1 Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Dwayne is right. Do NOT rely on the bouncing needle- it is NOT accurate. If you want to prove that for yourself, do a little comparison. Auscultate a BP, palpate a BP, and then obtain one by watching the needle bounce on the gauge. Do this for multiple people, and compare the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew99 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Thanks I'll from now on only trust my listening sense when it comes to BP pressure then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard B the EMT Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 The only use I have found for watching the needle on the sphigmanometer (spelling?) of a BP unit is when I cannot find a radial pulse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief1C Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 To check for accuracy of a unit we purchased and installed in the ambulance, we do similar comparisons. It's a unit that can do several things, not specifically made for EMS, cost as much as a nice used car, and stays put. However, we choose to only employ certain features. Also helps to weed out who can take an accurate BP, b/c it is possible to fake it for years - apparently - and be 'almost right' enough to get by. I did one of our 'self accuracy tests' after I read this earlier. Palp: 106/P; Scope: 110/62; Machine: 108/60. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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