Validation of a noninvasive blood pressure monitoring device in pediatric intensive care patients

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the performance and to define limitations of a noninvasive blood pressure monitoring device in the critically ill pediatric population. Measurements were collected simultaneously with those from an arterial line by a computer interfaced with the noninvasive blood pressure monitoring system and the patient´s monitor. Patients were included in the study if they were between the ages of 1 month and 18 years with wrist circumferences of ≥ 10 centimeters and an arterial line in place. Comparison analysis was performed via bias and precision plots of the blood pressure and heart rate data in addition to calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients and concordance correlation coefficients. Twenty patients had blood pressure and heart rate monitored by a noninvasive blood pressure monitor for 30 minutes per patient. Data collection resulted in 2015 data points for each blood pressure and heart rate for comparison of both methods. Concordance correlation coefficients were the following: systolic blood pressure 0.93, diastolic 0.93, mean 0.94, and heart rate 0.85. Our study showed good agreement between the methods in the critically ill, pediatric population with a wrist circumference limitation defined at ≥ 11 centimeters.