Pulse transit time measured from the ECG: an unreliable marker of beat-to-beat blood pressure

Abstract

The arterial pulse-wave transit time can be measured between the ECG R-wave and the finger pulse (rPTT), and has been shown previously to have a linear correlation with blood pressure (BP). We hypothesized that the relationship between rPTT, preejection period (PEP; the R-wave/mechanical cardiac delay), and BP would vary with different vasoactive drugs. Twelve healthy men (mean age 22 yr) were studied. Beat-to-beat measurements were made of rPTT (using ECG and photoplethysmograph finger probe), intra-arterial radial pressure, PEP (using cardiac bioimpedance), and transit time minus PEP (pPTT). Four drugs (glyceryl trinitrate, angiotensin II, norepinephrine, salbutamol) were administered intravenously over 15 min, with stepped dosage increase every 5 min and a 25-min saline washout between agents. All subjects in all conditions had a negative linear correlation (R2 = 0.39) between rPTT and systolic BP (SBP), generally constant between different drugs, apart from four subjects who had a positive rPTT/SBP correlation with salbutamol. The 95% limits of agreement between measured and rPTT-predicted SBP were +/-17.0 mmHg. Beat-to-beat variability of rPTT showed better coherence with SBP variability than it did with heart rate variability (P < 0.001). PEP accounted for a substantial and variable proportion of rPTT (12-35%). Diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial BP (MAP) correlated poorly with rPTT (R2 = 0.02 and 0.08, respectively) but better with pPTT (rPTT corrected for PEP, R2 = 0.41 and 0.45, respectively). The 95% limits of agreement between measured and pPTT-predicted DBP were +/- 17.3 mmHg. In conclusion, the negative correlation between rPTT and SBP is generally constant, even with marked hemodynamic perturbations. However, the relationship is not reliable enough for rPTT to be used as a surrogate marker of SBP, although it may be useful in assessing BP variability. DBP and MAP cannot be predicted from rPTT without correction for PEP. The significant contribution of PEP to rPTT means that rPTT should not be used as a marker of purely vascular function.

Can We Obtain a Noninvasive and Continuous Estimation of Cardiac Output? Comparison Between Three Noninvasive Methods

“…10,25) Various parameters such as differences in subject height, weight, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and ventricular pre-ejection period (refl ecting left ventricular isometric contraction time) have signifi cant contributions to pulse wave transit time. 30,31) We did not observe any blood pressure or heart rate difference between the IGR and esCCO data. Blood pressure is a surrogate for systemic vascular resistance.…”

An examination of calibration intervals required for accurately tracking blood pressure using pulse transit time algorithms

“…Although Chen found a calibration interval of 5 min was sufficient in his work, Payne found a calibration interval of 60 beats or less was required for the PTT to be accurate. 15 The PTT method has a number of advantages over other technologies and methods for estimating BP, most critically: the ability to monitor BP cufflessly making it more comfortable and Each calibration interval is assessed using this method and the associated BHS standard is provided in the last column. A rating of 'B' is deemed acceptable, whereas a rating of C is deemed failure.…”

A pilot application of Korotkoff sound delay time in evaluating cardiovascular status

“…The variation of the Korotkoff sound due to the blood pressure is distorted by the PEP [15]. Hence, utilizing the distorted KDT with ECG R wave or Q wave as reference to measure the blood pressure may reduce its credibility.…”