Noninvasive oscillometric measurement of blood pressure in baboons (Papio cynocephalus).

The accuracy and reliability of noninvasive measurement of blood pressure in the forearms of baboons by means of an automated oscillometric method were evaluated. Comparisons of 255 oscillometric determinations of systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure in eight anesthetized animals with simultaneously taken direct radial artery pressure measurements revealed average differences and standard deviations of +0.14 (+/- 9.05), +4.34 (+/- 6.75), and -1.01 (+/- 5.84) Torr, respectively. Computation of statistical error bounds indicated that any single oscillometric reading could be expected to fall within 9.6%, 11.0% nd 7.4% of directly measured systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure with a probability of 0.90. The oscillometric determinations accurately tracked rapid changes in pressure caused by intravenous infusion of pressor and depressor drugs. The method provided fast, reliable readings of arterial pressure without the use of microphones or other transducers that require precise placement and low-noise environments.