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Introduction

Ambulatory Blood Pressure (ABP) monitoring is a portable test that records your child's blood pressure over 24 hours while they go about their usual day and during sleep. 

The ABP monitor measures and records blood pressure readings from a large blood vessel in the arm called the brachial artery.

The monitor will use its pump to inflate the cuff automatically at pre-set time intervals, storing the information on a memory card. 

ABP monitoring is used for children of all ages to check things like:

• whether random episodes of high blood pressure are linked to activities or feelings like anxiety and stress at specific times
• the effects of medications on your child's blood pressure
• issues with high blood pressure in organ disease, including kidney disease
• the risk of your child having a life-threatening cardiovascular event or end-organ disease.

Your child's doctor or physiologist will explain the test to you and answer any questions you may have. 

You will be asked to keep a diary while your child has the monitor on, recording their:

• activity
• posture
• sleep
• medication times.

Your child cannot shower, bathe, or swim while the monitor is on, and they must be careful not to drop the monitor.

The physiologist will then:

1. record your child's height and weight to help them understand the results
2. put a cuff around your child's arm, ensuring it fits comfortably
3. check that the tubes from the cuff are connected to the monitor
4. clip the monitor to your child’s clothing or around their waist with a belt
5. take a few blood pressure readings to make sure everything works properly.

They will also show you how to take a manual blood pressure reading by pressing the blue button at the top of the monitor box.

Once the monitor is set up, your child can continue their day as usual.

ABP monitoring is painless. Your child may feel pressure on their arm when the cuff inflates to take a blood pressure reading.

The ABP monitor will measure and record blood pressure readings: 

• every 30 minutes between 7 am and 10 pm
• every hour between 10 pm and 7 am.

You can remove the cuff from your child's arm after the monitoring period.

Return the monitor and diary to the clinic within 24 hours after the test is completed. The results will be transferred from the memory card to a computer.

Your child's treatment team will use the monitoring and diary information to understand the results.

Your child's doctor will let you know when the results are ready.