Validation of a new non-invasive device for measuring peripheral blood pressure

The Medwave Vasotrac® model APM205, a new commercially available non-invasive blood pressure monitor, has potential in both the laboratory and clinical setting. To validate its use, we simultaneously recorded blood pressure indirectly with the Vasotrac and directly with a brachial artery catheter, at rest and during a cold pressor test in four subjects. Both at rest and during the cold pressor test, blood pressure values from the Vasotrac were on average nearly identical to direct arterial pressure measurements. Rest Cold Pressor Test Systolic Diastolic Mean Systolic Diastoli Mean c Vasotrac 122±20 68±17 86±18 141±18 82±18 103±21 Direct 122±7 64±4 83±5 143±13 83±5 103±16 The coefficients of variation for systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures measured at rest with the Vasotrac (3.2%, 5.5%, and 4.3%) were slightly higher than for direct arterial pressure (2.0%, 3.7%, and 2.8%). Thus, Vasotrac blood pressure measurements during a modest stressor are comparable to those obtained with a direct arterial catheter. In conclusion, Vasotrac reliably measures blood pressure during sympathoexcitatory stimuli, often used in autonomic testing in the laboratory.