STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE SOP No: IPS/PHY-011.

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Laboratory:
Physiology
IPS
Title “Determination of Blood Pressure Using Palpatory Method”
Written by: Reviewed by:
Name Ms.Hina Hussain Mr Syed Muneeb Anjum
Designation Teaching Assistant IPS Lecturer
Date 16-04-2009 13-03-2012
1. Objective:
1. To measure the arterial blood pressure using palpatory and auscultatory methods.

2.SCOPE
Principle: A cloth-covered bag, rapped around upper arm, is inflated with air till higher extra-arterial pressure occludes
the brachial artery. The pressure in the bag is then gradually reduced and balanced against intra-arterial pressure. The
reading for systolic and diastolic blood pressure are then observed.

There are two methods:

1- Palpatory method
2- Auscultatory method

3.Responsibility:
Pharm- D Students 1st semester.
2. Requirements:
4.1 Apparatus:
Stethoscope, Sphygmomanometer, Human Subject
4.2 Human subject:

5. Method:
5.1 Palpatory method:
5.1.1 Wrap the pressure cuff.
5.1.2 Palpate the radial artery on the lateral side of wrist and feel the pulse.
5.1.3 Inflate the cuff slowly and note the value on sphygmomanometer when feeling of pulse in lost.
5.1.4 Now deflate the pressure by turning the valve anti clock wise slowly, keeping an eye on the mercury
columns pressure and note the reading where you feel the pulse again.
5.1.5 Now add the both values and divide it by two to get the average value.
5.1.6 Take three readings.
6. Precautions

6.1 Each and every step of perfoprmance should be discussed with subject prior to the procedure.
6.2 Zero error of sphygmomanometer should be corrected.
6.3 The level of sphagmomanometer should be same as that of the heart of the subject.
6.4 The inflatable rubber bag alongwith its tubing should be placed over the inner side of arm.
6.5 Do not leave the cuff inflated for more than two minutes.
6.6 The muscle of the arm should not be contracted during determination of blood pressure.
6.7 Place the cuff 3cm above the cubital fossa.

7. Classification of Blood pressure for Adults

 Category systolic, mmHg diastolic, mmHg
Hypotension < 90 < 60
Desired 90–119 60–79
Prehypertension 120–139 80–89
Stage 1 Hypertension 140–159 90–99
Stage 2 Hypertension 160–179 100–109
Hypertensive Emergency ≥ 180 ≥ 110

8. Normal Values
Reference ranges for blood pressure in children
Stage Approximate age Systolic Diastolic
Infants 1 to 12 months 75–100 50–70
Toddlers and preschoolers 1 to 5 years 80–110 50–80
School age 6 to 12 years 85–120 50–80
Adolescents 13 to 18 years 95–140 60–90

9. Observations and Calculations

Systolic Pressure (mmHg)

S. No During During Mean Systolic Pressure (mmHg)
Inflation Deflation
1.
2.
3.

Result:
The average systolic blood pressure measured through Palpatory Method is _______________mmHg.

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