Chapter 5: Blood Pressure Show
A healthcare provider uses a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff with a sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure manually. The stethoscope is used to listen to the blood pressure sounds, which are called Korotkoff sounds. Stethoscope Usage and Korotkoff SoundsThe stethoscope is used on bare skin so that a client’s clothing does not affect the sounds. The stethoscope does not make sounds louder; it simply blocks out extraneous noises so you can better hear the Korotkoff sounds. These sounds are heard through a stethoscope applied over the brachial artery when the blood pressure cuff is deflating. You will not hear anything when you first place the stethoscope over the brachial artery, because unobstructed blood flow is silent. The Korotkoff sounds appear after you inflate the cuff (which compresses the artery/blood flow) and then begin to deflate the cuff. The Korotkoff sounds are the result of the turbulent blood caused by the inflated cuff compressing the artery and oscillations of the arterial wall when the heart beats during cuff deflation. Here are a few tips:
Figure 5.4: Stethoscope with bell and diaphragm (Illustration credit: Hilary Tang)
Film clip 5.2: Opening and closing the bell and diaphragm Alternatively, if viewing textbook as a pdf, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/rp_4h-tCmvs?rel=0 Determining Maximum Inflation PressureHealthcare providers determine the maximum inflation pressure before they take blood pressure. The maximum inflation pressure is the number on the sphygmomanometer that the cuff is inflated to when measuring blood pressure. If you do not determine the maximum pressure inflation, an auscultatory gap could go unrecognized, and as a result the blood pressure could be underestimated (lower than the actual value). An auscultatory gap is a silent interval when the Korotkoff sounds go absent and then reappear while you are deflating the cuff during blood pressure measurement. This gap is an abnormal finding and can occur due to arterial stiffness and arteriosclerotic disease. It is typically observed in people with a history of hypertension who have been treated with prolonged antihypertensive medication. To determine the maximum inflation pressure, start by palpating the brachial or radial pulse while inflating the cuff. Inflate the cuff 30 mm Hg quickly past the point when you obliterate the pulse (ie., you no longer feel the pulse). If you still cannot feel the pulse, use that value to start auscultating – that value is the maximum inflation pressure number. When taking blood pressure, if an auscultatory gap is observed, document the first systolic sound and diastolic sound only. Report the presence of an auscultatory gap in narrative notes. Points to ConsiderGenerally, auscultatory gaps do not interfere with automatic blood pressure measurements (Fech, et al., 2012). However, if a client’s blood pressure reading is suspiciously high or low, the healthcare provider takes blood pressure manually. Blood Pressure Measurement TechniquesFor novices, it is a good idea to start with the two-step technique and then move onto the one-step technique as you develop your skills. Two-step techniqueFirst step: Determining maximum pressure inflationPalpate the radial or brachial artery, inflate the blood pressure cuff until the pulse is obliterated, and then continue to inflate 30 mm Hg more (OER #1). Note this number – it is considered the maximum pressure inflation. Next, deflate the cuff quickly. Second step: Measure blood pressureNow, you can start to measure blood pressure. Place the bell of the cleansed stethoscope over the brachial artery (OER #1) using a light touch and complete seal. Inflate the cuff to the maximum pressure inflation number (OER #1). Open the valve slightly. Deflate the cuff slowly and evenly (OER #1) at about 2 mm Hg per second. See Film Clip 5.3 which focuses on the speed of the needle when deflating the blood pressure cuff. Note the points at which you hear the first appearance of Korotkoff sounds (systolic blood pressure) (OER #1) and the point at which the Korotkoff sounds go silent (diastolic blood pressure) (Hypertension Canada, 2020). These sounds are called Korotkoff sounds and vary in quality from tapping, swooshing, muffled sounds, and silence. The pressure at which the first Korotkoff sound is noted signifies the systolic pressure, while the pressure at which the Korotkoff sounds are no longer heard marks the diastolic pressure. See Audio Clip 5.1 to listen to Korotkoff sounds and noting systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Alternatively, if viewing textbook as a pdf, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/lPlYNt8cVnI?rel=0 Film clip 5.3: Deflation rate of sphygmomanometer Alternatively, if viewing textbook as a pdf, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbGPzUluT5c?rel=0 One-step technique: Determining maximum pressure inflation and taking blood pressurePalpate the radial or brachial artery, inflate the blood pressure cuff until the pulse is obliterated (OER #1), and then quickly continue to inflate 30 mm Hg more (Hypertension Canada, 2020). Place the bell of the cleansed stethoscope over the brachial artery (OER #1) using a light touch with a complete seal. Open the valve slightly. Deflate the cuff slowly and evenly (OER #1) at about 2 mm Hg per second. Note the points at which you hear the first Korotkoff sound (systolic blood pressure) (OER #1) and the point in which the Korotkoff sounds go silent (diastolic blood pressure) (Hypertension Canada, 2020). These sounds are called Korotkoff sounds and vary in quality from tapping, swooshing, muffled sounds, and silence. The first Korotkoff sound is the systolic pressure, and the diastolic pressure is when the Korokoff sounds go silent. Audio clip 5.1: Korotkoff sounds with blood pressure of 122/76 mm Hg Alternatively, if viewing textbook as a pdf, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/MTYfYnX6FH0?rel=0 Points to ConsiderKorotkoff sounds are the sounds of blood flow through the artery as you are listening to blood pressure. Korotkoff sounds are not the same thing as the heart beat or the pulse. They disappear as the cuff is inflated and reappear as the cuff is deflated. They also cannot be heard when the cuff is fully deflated because unobstructed and healthy blood flow is silent. When deflating the cuff, the first Korotkoff sound is systolic and the point in which the Korotkoff sounds are no longer heard is diastolic (Hypertension Canada, 2020). In rare cases, the Korotkoff sounds continue to 0 mm Hg. In this case, the diastolic pressure should be measured when the Korotkoff sounds become muffled (Hypertension Canada, 2020). _________________________________________________________________________ What are the 5 phases of Korotkoff sounds?Phase I. Blood is beginning to flow back into the artery and can be heard as a sharp tapping sound. ... . Phase II. The cuff is deflated slowly, with blood flowing. ... . Phase III. A large amount of blood is flowing into the artery. ... . Phase IV. Blood is flowing easily, and the sound changes to a soft tapping. ... . Phase V.. What does the sound of tapping in the first Korotkoff phase indicate?Phase 1: A sharp tapping. This is the first sound heard as the cuff pressure is released. This sound provides the systolic pressure reading.
During which phase of Korotkoff sounds does the sound fade and become muffled?The five phases of Korotkoff sounds are used to determine someone's blood pressure. Phase 1 is a sharp tapping sound and indicates the systolic blood pressure. Phase 2 is a swishing sound associated with blood flow. Phase 3 transitions to a softer thump, while Phase 4 is a thump that becomes muffled.
What is the 4th Korotkoff sound?The fourth phase of Korotkoff sound is an abrupt fall in sound level and is sometimes taken as representing diastolic pressure, although the final loss of all sound (fifth phase of Korotkoff) is more widely accepted as indicating diastolic pressure.
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