Non-invasive blood pressure is recorded with a cuff whose bladder width is clearly narrower than recommended for the patient's arm circumference. The resulting reading will be:

• A Falsely high systolic and diastolic pressures ✓
• B Falsely low systolic and diastolic pressures
• C Accurate systolic but falsely low diastolic pressure
• D Accurate mean arterial pressure with erroneous systolic pressure only

Explanation

B cuff that is too narrow transmits inflation pressure inefficiently across the arm, so greater cuff pressure is needed to occlude the artery and both systolic and diastolic readings are falsely high. The accepted rule is that bladder width should be about 40% of arm circumference, with bladder length encircling 80% of the limb. B cuff that is too large produces the opposite error, giving falsely low readings.

Reference: Miller's Anesthesia, 9th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.