Inflationary oscillometry provides accurate measurement of blood pressure in pre-eclampsia.

• Golara M,

  Benedict A,

  Jones C,

  Randhawa M,

  Poston L,

GKT Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.

Objectives:

To evaluate the accuracy of the OMRON-MIT inflationary oscillometric device for blood pressure measurement in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

Design:

Prospective observational study, using validation methods recommended by the British Hypertension Society (BHS) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). SETTINGS: Antenatal clinics and ward, Guy's Hospital, London. POPULATION: Normotensive pregnant women and those diagnosed with pre-eclampsia according to the definition of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy.

Methods:

Validation according to BHS protocol.

Main Outcome Measures:

Proportion of readings within 5, 10 and 15 mmHg (absolute differences) between the automated device and two trained, blinded observers, according to the BHS and AAMI criteria.

Results:

The OMRON-MIT achieved an overall BHS grade B for systolic and grade A for diastolic blood pressure measurement in both pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. The mean (SD) differences between the standard and the test device were -5 (7) mmHg for systolic and 2 (6) mmHg for diastolic blood pressure in pregnancy and -4 (6) mmHg for systolic and 2 (7) mmHg for diastolic blood pressure in pre-eclampsia. This device therefore fulfils the AAMI criteria.

Conclusion:

The OMRON-MIT is the only automated oscillometric device that has proven to be accurate for blood pressure measurement in pre-eclampsia according to the BHS protocol in pregnancy. Inflationary oscillometry may correct the error associated with oscillometric devices in pre-eclampsia.