Palping a BP:
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Weekly question from archived Gold Cross CEU Articles.
CEU Test #96 "Vital Signs As Directional SIgnals". by Charles Livesey & edited by Julie Aberger. (Posted 1/24/2017) When pumping a blood pressure cuff to "palp" a BP, the EMT should note the point where the pulse is no longer felt and next.... a. stop pumping b. record the point as the diastolic pressure c. deflate the cuff d. continue inflating the cuff another 30 mmHg Answer: An alternative method of determining blood pressure is by palpation. No stethoscope is needed. This method can be used if there is too much ambient noise to auscultate the pulse sounds, like in the back of an ambulance en route to the hospital. To “palp” a BP, the EMT locates a radial pulse with two fingers prior to pumping up the cuff. The cuff is then inflated until the pulse is no longer felt. The EMT should note the point on the gauge where this occurs and continue to inflate the cuff 30 mmHg The EMT should note the point on the gauge on the gauge where the pulse is no longer felt and continue to inflate the cuff to 30 mmHg beyond this point. beyond this point. The cuff should then be slowly deflated, and the EMT should note the reading at which the radial pulse returns, i.e., where it can be felt again. This results in a reading of about 10 mmHg lower than the sys-tolic pressure determined by auscul-tation. Palpating a blood pressure has a disadvantage in that the diastolic pressure cannot be determined. Palpation should be used only when auscultation is not possible.
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