Learning Objective #1: see the relationship between the peripheral blood pressure and umbilical arterial blood pressure levels in premature babies with extremely low birth body weight.

Learning Objective #2: see the linear regression equal between the peripheral blood pressure and umbilical arterial blood pressure levels in premature babies with extremely low birth body weight.

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The development of premature babies with extremely low body weight is unmaturity, and hence leads to extremely different measurement in the peripheral blood pressure. Clinically, it is difficult to monitor blood pressure conditions accurately. Therefore most clinical doctors dependently place umbilical arterial catheter to measure arterial blood pressure. According to this, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the peripheral blood pressure and umbilical arterial blood pressure levels in premature babies with extremely low birth body weight. Convenience sampling was applied in this study. The premature babies with extremely low birth body weight received umbilical arterial catheter insertion. The patients (from January, 2005 till June, 2007) admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at a single medical center in southern Taiwan were sampled. The patients received a 3-day measurement in peripheral blood pressure and umbilical arterial blood pressure values after birth. A total 77 blood pressure values from 11 patients were obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including Pearson's correlation and linear regression. The results indicated that there was a significant correlation between the peripheral blood pressure of four limbs and umbilical arterial blood pressure (p < 0.05). The mean blood pressure of right arm was markedly positive correlation then the other limbs (r = 0.57). The mean blood pressure levels of umbilical arterial were equal to the mean blood pressure levels of right arm's 59.3 percent + 24.3. Thus, we suggest that measurement of the blood pressure from right arm in premature babies with extremely low birth body weight may provide an alternative method while the absence of umbilical arterial catheter.