The MAMMBA Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Most Accurate Method of Measuring Blood Pressure in Atrial Fibrillation?
IRAS ID
205103
Contact name
William Eysenck
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 6 days
Research summary
This study involves measuring blood pressure in patients who have a tube already inserted in their artery (this is known as an arterial line). The most accurate method of measuring blood pressure is with an arterial line but this is an invasive procedure. In order to prevent unnecessary invasive procedures we aim to identify patients with the arterial lines already in situ. It is common for patients in an intensive care setting to have arterial lines in place. In addition, all patients having a coronary angiogram will have an arterial line in place.\n\nUsing the blood pressure obtained from the arterial line (the gold standard) we aim to compare other methods of blood pressure assessment. These are the manual sphygmomanometer, the automated blood pressure and also the PulseCor R6.5 which is a sophisticated device that measures central and peripheral BP using wave forms.\n\nThe manual sphygmomanometer is a device with a cuff which is inflated and the doctor simultaensouly listens over the arm with a stethoscope. Using this method blood pressure can be accurately determined.\n \nThe automated sphymomanometer is similar but does not require listening with a stethoscope becuase the machine calculates the blood pressure automoatically.\n \nThe PulseCor R6.5 is also an automated blood pressure device. \nBlood pressure measurement in the context of an irregular heart rhythm (known as atrial fibrillation, AF) is particularly difficult because the blood pressure actually varies with every heartbeat. Half of the participants in this study will have AF.\n\nIn addition the PulseCor device measures the ’stiffness’ of the blood vessels. This is thought to correlate with the size of one of the chambers in the heart (the top left chamber or left atrium). We aim to assess how the diameter of the left atrium correlates with the arterial stiffness measured by the PulseCor device.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
16/NS/0051
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion