Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing
Volume 13, Issue 4 , Pages 201-203, November 2009

Formula for converting mmHg to kPa as the unit for measurement of pressure when using newer tourniquet machines that measure pressure using the SI (Systeme International)

  • Manohar Arumugam, M.B.B.S M.S. Ortho (Associate Professor and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationTel.: +60 193694014.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

published online 14 July 2009.

Summary 

Tourniquets use is common in hand surgery. The correct tourniquet pressure is important to achieve a bloodless operating field and to prevent tourniquet syndrome and tourniquet paralysis syndrome. Newer tourniquet devices use kPa as the unit to measure pressure. This article highlights the existence of such machines and also describes the formula to convert mmHg to kPa which can be done quite easily to ensure that the correct pressure (in kPa) is used.

Keywords: Tourniquet, Pressure, Cuff, mmHg, kPa, Millimetres of mercury, Kilo Pascal, Conversion

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PII: S1361-3111(09)00091-0

doi:10.1016/j.joon.2009.04.002

Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing
Volume 13, Issue 4 , Pages 201-203, November 2009