An evaluation of the T‐Line® Tensymeter continuous noninvasive blood pressure device during induced hypotension

• Published in: Anaesthesia Vol. 63; no. 3; pp. 307 - 312
• Main Authors: Szmuk, P., Pivalizza, E., Warters, R. D., Ezri, T., Gebhard, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2008; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anesthesia; Anesthesia, General; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure; Blood Pressure Monitors; Comparative studies; Female; Humans; Hypotension, Controlled; Male; Measurement techniques; Medical sciences; Medical technology; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Intraoperative - instrumentation; Spine - surgery; Anesthesia; Blood pressure
• ISSN: 0003-2409; 1365-2044
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2007.05369.x

Summary A new continuous noninvasive blood pressure measurement device, the T‐Line® Tensymeter TL100 (Tensys Medical Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) which enables avoidance of arterial cannulation has been developed. We compared the values obtained using the T‐Line values to simultaneous arterial line measurements in patients undergoing general anaesthesia with induced hypotension. Twenty‐five patients, aged 18–70 years, were studied. The T‐Line and arterial line were positioned on the contralateral wrists. Intra‐operative, real‐time, blood pressure data were electronically captured and stored on a computer. Bland–Altman plots and 95% limits of agreement show that the majority of T‐Line data points were within 5 mmHg of the arterial line measurements (67%) and agreement was within 15 mmHg in 94.6% or more of all measurements. There was virtually no distinguishable error over the course of surgery using the device. In conclusion, the T‐Line measurements correlate with arterial measurements during anaesthesia in which there were periods of both normotensive and hypotensive anaesthesia. The T‐Line Tensymeter represents a noninvasive alternative to an arterial line in cases when arterial blood sampling is not required.