Blood Pressure in Transthoracic Echocardiogram

Accurate resting blood pressure plays an important role in the accurate calculation of flow-dependent valvular indices used to grade the severity of valvular disease using echocardiograph images. If resting blood pressure is over-estimated there is a potential for error in the diagnosis of valvulopathies and by extension, an over or under treatment of valvular disease. Therefore, there is a need to improve concordance between various non-flow dependent indices, such as AVA and Dimensionless Index (DI), and flow dependent indices by using the patient’s average resting BP or trough BP. It is still not known at what time point during the course of the study the patient achieves their resting BP. This research study hopes to investigate that.

Inclusion Criteria

• All comers between the age of 18 and 100 years of age to the Tufts Medical Center Echocardiography suite.

Exclusion Criteria

• Adults unable to consent (cognitively impaired adults)
• Adults with bilateral upper extremity injury, nerve damage, fistulas or other anatomic concerns.

Study Requirements

9 blood pressure readings to be taken during a scheduled transthoracic echocardiogram. The blood pressure readings will be takan at 5-minute intervals.