Analysis and experimental simulation of blood pressure signal distortions observed on intensive care patients monitored by a catheter in radial artery.

The follow-up of patients with hemodynamic instability in intensive care units most often requires blood pressure measurement using a fluid-filled catheter in the radial artery and a fluid-filled tubing connected to a pressure transducer. However, in this usual setup major distortions frequently occur that may alter the pressure signal. Underdamping and overdamping have been well described whereas other types of distortions, including attenuations and varied envelopes of pulse pressure, have been less studied. This study proposes 1) a classification of signal distortions observed on intensive care patients, and 2) several experimental procedures modifying the catheter lumen and the fluid-filled tubing in order to generate a large variety of pressure distortions to more closely mimic the clinical observations.