Abstract
Systemic blood pressure in the neonate may be affected by such variables as crying, postnatal age, and birth weight. This study demonstrates that routine abdominal examination in the ill neonate significantly elevates systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Blood pressure was monitored on a Corometrics NeoTrak Monitor during palpation of the liver, kidney and bladder of 19 ill infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. Baseline and recovery values of 2 minutes duration were obtained prior to and following palpation. 17 of 19 infants were on mechanical ventilators. Mean birthweight, gestational age and chronological age at the time of study were 1684 grams, 31.8 weeks, and 43 hours respectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure rose significantly with palpation. No changes in PO2 or PCO2 values were noted.
In summary, systolic and diastolic blood pressure increase by up to 24% during abdominal palpation in the ill neonate. Whether abdominal palpation increases the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage in susceptible low birthweight infants remains to be determined.
† p <.001
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Adelman, R., Sinkin, R. & Phillips, B. 1320 ELEVATION IN SYSTEMIC BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE NEONATE FOLLOWING ABDOMINAL PALPATION. Pediatr Res 19, 330 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01344
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01344