why is there a false high diastolic reading if the Auscultatory Gap is undetected?

[GingerSue]

I can understand why there would be a falsely low systolic reading, but could someone explain why there would be a false high diastolic reading if the Auscultatory Gap is undetected?

Thanks

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

I can understand why there would be a falsely low systolic reading, but could someone explain why there would be a false high diastolic reading if the Auscultatory Gap is undetected?

Thanks

Well the last you hear is the diastolic reading in a blood pressure. So, let's say the last sound you hear is at 90 mmHg and don't keep listening further, and you immediately stop and record that as the diastolic reading. Had you listened further, let's say you would have heard some more sounds when you reached 70 mmHg. So his true diastolic reading would be 70, but since you stopped listening at 90, you recorded 90. This is a false high diastolic reading.

[GingerSue]

thanks - I was thinking through in terms of continuing to listen, so this would be the observer's error to stop listening.

[doglady2]

Hi out there, I am reading into this auscultatory gap thing too much I think. I am drawing a blank when I try to understand why inflation of bp cuff 30mmhg higher than systolic bp avoids the auscultatory gap mistake? Can anyone help please???

[doglady2]

Hi again, Another question, when do we know when an auscultatory gap will occur?