Final answer:
Inflate a blood pressure cuff to 180-200 mm Hg when diastolic blood pressure is unknown to effectively act as a tourniquet while ensuring patient safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
When using a blood pressure cuff as a tourniquet without knowing the patient's diastolic blood pressure, it is essential to inflate the cuff to a pressure higher than the systolic pressure. This is done to ensure complete cessation of blood flow during a procedure such as drawing blood for a blood test or to stop bleeding. Normally, clinicians inflate the cuff to a level of 20-30 mm Hg above the patient's known systolic blood pressure to occlude the artery during such procedures. However, if the diastolic pressure is unknown, it is still crucial to exceed the systolic pressure but not to apply too much pressure to prevent any potential harm. Final answer: In a professional setting, without known diastolic blood pressure, clinicians typically inflate the cuff to 180-200 mm Hg as a standard protocol, assuming the systolic pressure will not be above 180 mm Hg. This approach balances the effectiveness of occluding the artery with the safety of the patient.
In summary, inflate the cuff to a standard protocol of 180-200 mm Hg to occlude blood flow when the patient's diastolic blood pressure is unknown. To safely use a blood pressure cuff as a tourniquet without known diastolic blood pressure, inflate to 180-200 mm Hg. This ensures cessation of blood flow while minimizing risk to the patient.