Preferences about bp equipment

Hi all

during blood pressure measurement do u prefer the doctor use aneroid or mercurial sphygmo?

I have a genuine Baumanometer wall mounted mercurial which is over 25 years old but still looks like it just came out of the box. I trust it's accuracy without any hesitation.

Lovely... it's so fixed and authoritarian.

I always establish BP by palpation first, and then I will auscultate, primarily to confirm my palpation findings. In many cases I find the stethoscope is redundant as my palpation, particularly Systolic, is more accurate most of the time. It also has the advantage of being able to monitor BP during procedures without a need to use a stethoscope.

Further, one of the reasons I trust it's accuracy is that the manometer is mounted in a position that when a patient is sitting on the exam table, it is at exactly the same level as their heart. This virtually eliminates the margin for error due to elevation atmospheric pressure differences. As a Mercurial sphygmomanometer has no moving parts whatsoever, there is nothing to wear out or ever require adjustment. It is a "scientific standard" by which others are tested for accuracy.

I may add that I have never personally seen any medical professional, doctors or nurses, use palpation. I am unsure where the technique may have been taught, however I discovered it by reading the instruction manual which came with my Baumanometer. Seems too obvious....

I like to sqeeze the cuff and to place the stetho, the rhythm of the pump, to see the mercury that goes up, to hear the sound of the heart im my ears...

and you? 😉))

I really enjoy when a nurse or female dr roleplays doing my BP. I'm not picky about what type of manual cuff she uses, but I do prefer manual. Although, the beeping of the autocuff mixed with other things add to the atmosphere. The most important thing is that she read out the bp when she's done ;-). Anyone nurses/female docs interested in doing my BP?

I have only had blood pressure taken with the manual cuff. This is true in multiple different offices since every physical I have had since college has been done by a different doctor. The blood pressure measurement itself does not excite me, but, since in my experience, it is the first step in the exam process, it provides the distinct beginning that the somber and embarrassing experience of the physical exam is underway.

I prefer aneroid. I love to see the dial moving up and down, and when it jumps during systole of the heart. Aneroid wall mounting for me with Littman lightweight as complement if I can choose. Ah, and a lovely nurse in scrubs. 😉

Rn here. I think the best bp cuffs today are the automatic cuffs you can buy from retailers for about $60. Some are not accurate but the ones from well-known retailers seem good. Faster and probably more accurate than my old ears and a stethescope.

We have an old ReliOn we took to the doctors office once to compare with their automatic cuff. Both my wife and my readings were within a few points between cuffs. It’s good enuf!

I think the best bp cuffs today are the automatic cuffs you can buy from retailers for about $60. Faster and probably more accurate than my old ears and a stethescope.

I definetely agree with you. If you search and read reviews, you can buy good automatic sphygmomanometer, which does not need palpate or auscultate brachial artery.

For me it really just depends on the mood. If I am up for being regressed to childhood, a desktop mercury sphygmomanometer will do this instantly. I will never say no to a good, handsome aneroid. I generally dislike the electronic ones.

The old fashioned ones are my preference