Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor

What is an Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor?
This is a test that allows the physician to observe your child’s changing blood pressure throughout the day.

Why is this test performed?
This test records fluctuations in blood pressure over the course of a day.  Some patients have high blood pressure in the doctors’ office because of anxiety.

How is the test performed?
A technologist will apply a blood pressure cuff on one of the arms that is attached to a small monitor.  This monitor will record the blood pressures at certain intervals during the day.  The cuff will automatically inflate and record a blood pressure approximately every hour for a 24-hour time period.

Are my child’s activities limited during the 24-hour test?
Only if your doctor has given you special instructions.  Generally, there are no physical limitations involved with the test.  When the cuff inflates, the child should relax his or her arm and be as still as possible to ensure a more accurate reading.

How will I receive the test results?
A technologist will retrieve the information from a computer chip in the monitor box and generate a report for the pediatric cardiologist.  You will receive the results from the physician that ordered the test in about one week.