R.E.B.E.L.EM - Posted by Salim Rezaie
"BOTTOM LINE
Although very small studies, they were done by two different authors, using different methods (BP cuff vs arterial line). Both came to the same conclusion: ATLS overestimates SBP based on palpation of radial, femoral, & carotid pulses. Another way to state this is, if using ATLS guidelines to guestimate BP, we are grossly underestimating the degree of hypovolemia our patients have.
UPDATE: These recommendations have now been removed from the 8th and 9th edition of ATLS"