Final answer:
When measuring blood pressure, avoid applying a cuff to an injured extremity, one with vascular or lymphatic issues, a dialysis fistula, or an extremity which had surgery such as a mastectomy with lymph node removal, or with an IV line. Proper technique involves placing the cuff at the level of the heart and using a stethoscope to listen for blood flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
When checking blood pressure, avoid applying a cuff to an extremity that has been injured, has a vascular or lymphatic obstruction, has a dialysis fistula, where a mastectomy with lymph node removal has been performed, or that has an intravenous (IV) line in place. This is important because using the blood pressure cuff on such an extremity could cause further injury or result in an inaccurate blood pressure reading. Additionally, using the blood pressure cuff on an arm raised above the shoulder or on the upper leg with the person standing can affect the readings obtained due to the effects of gravity on the pressure in the arteries.
To measure blood pressure, the clinician wraps an inflatable cuff tightly around the patient's arm at about the level of the heart. The clinician then squeezes a rubber pump to inject air into the cuff, raising pressure around the artery and temporarily cutting off blood flow into the patient's arm. The clinician places the stethoscope on the patient's antecubital region and gradually allows air within the cuff to escape while listening for the Korotkoff sounds to determine systolic and diastolic pressures.