Arm versus ankle mean arterial pressure during elective cesarean delivery
Official title: Observational Study Comparing Non-Invasive Mean Arterial Blood Pressure Measurements at the Arm and Ankle During Elective Cesarean Delivery to Facilitate Skin-to-Skin Contact.
Run by St. Justine's Hospital · NCT07422766 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will see if a blood pressure cuff on the ankle gives similar mean arterial pressure readings to a standard arm cuff in pregnant people having a planned C-section under spinal anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 110 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | St. Justine's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montreal, Quebec) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 26, 2026 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07422766 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are term (≥35 weeks) singleton pregnant people scheduled for elective cesarean under neuraxial anesthesia, ASA I–III, BMI under 40, and able to consent in English or French.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with peripheral vascular disease, hypertension requiring medication, morbid obesity (BMI ≥40), those having general anesthesia, emergency or multiple pregnancies, or unable to have an ankle cuff placed are unlikely to benefit from ankle cuff monitoring.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study enrolls 110 pregnant individuals (≥35 weeks, singleton) scheduled for elective cesarean under neuraxial anesthesia at CHU Sainte‑Justine. Each participant will wear both a standard upper‑arm cuff and a cuff on the ankle, with simultaneous non‑invasive blood pressure measurements taken before entering the operating room, five minutes after spinal anesthesia, and five minutes after birth. The primary analysis compares mean arterial pressure (MAP) between arm and ankle measurements five minutes after birth; secondary comparisons include pre‑anesthesia and post‑anesthesia timepoints and four yes/no questions on maternal comfort during skin‑to‑skin contact. Every participant serves as her own control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If ankle MAP readings are comparable to arm readings, ankle cuffs could allow more comfortable and uninterrupted skin‑to‑skin contact after cesarean without sacrificing non‑invasive blood pressure monitoring.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research comparing ankle and arm non‑invasive blood pressure has been performed in other populations and some obstetric settings with mixed results, so the approach is not entirely novel but remains incompletely settled for cesarean patients.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Women scheduled for elective cesarean under neuraxial anesthesia at CHU Sainte-Justine. * American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status I-III * Singleton pregnancy * Gestation ≥ 35 weeks * BMI \< 40 * Able to consent in French or English Exclusion Criteria: * Cesarean planned under general anesthesia. * Multiple pregnancy * Prematurity \< 35 weeks gestation * Major fetal anomalies * Morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40) * Active labor * Emergency cesarean * Prisoners * Peripheral vascular disease requiring medication or treatment * Hypertensive diseases requiring medication * Inability to place blood pressure cuff on ankle (amputation, dysmorphism, etc.) * Complications requiring significant hemodynamic support (transfusions, inotropes, multiple vasopressors, etc.
Where it's running
-
CHU Sainte-Justine
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Valerie Zaphiratos — St. Justine's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Valerie Zaphiratos, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Anesthesiology
- Email: valerie@zaphiratos.ca
- Phone: 15143454931
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.