Hi friends, It is important that the patient should be comfortable and relaxed and that the arm should be laid bare to the shoulder in order to avoid any constriction by a rolled-up sleeve and to facilitate the proper application of the armlet. The cuff, deflated should be applied evenly to the middle of the upper arm with the middle of the rubber bag over the inner side of the arm.
A preliminary approximate reading of the systolic pressure should be taken by palpation; the pressure in the armlet should be raised quickly in steps of 10 mm. until the radial pulse disappears and then allowed to fall rapidly. The stethoscope should be applied lightly and accurately over the bronchial artery.
After inflating the cuff to a pressure of about 30 mm. above the systolic pressure as found by palpation, auscultation should be conducted during slow deflation. The systolic pressure is the highest pressure at which successive sounds are heard.
