Arterial blood pressure monitoring during whole body hyperthermia

Background

For monitoring of arterial blood pressure (ABP) during induced whole body hyperthermia (WBH) different methods have been recommended. This investigation was performed to evaluate the agreement of invasive measurements at various sites, and to compare invasive and non-invasive methods of ABP monitoring under conditions of a heat-induced extreme vasodilation.

Methods

In 19 patients, 48 treatments with WBH were performed. Measurements of ABP in radial and femoral artery, by oscillometry and sphygmomanometry, were taken at four temperature-levels during WBH (at 37°C, 40°C, 41.8°C and 39°C).

Results

For systolic ABP significant differences were seen between invasive and non-invasive methods with higher values for non-invasive measurements. For diastolic blood pressures sphygmomanometry gave higher and oscillimetry lower values when compared to both invasive measurements. Sphygmomanometry also showed higher values for mean ABP compared to all other techniques, while measurements in radial and femoral artery and by oscillometry differed only by about 5 mmHg.

Conclusion

The hemodynamic management during WBH should be guided by mean arterial pressure instead of the systolic and/or diastolic pressure. The sphygmomanometric technique is not recommended for use during hyperthermia.