Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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To describe the design and implementation of "INFUSION TOOLBOX," a software tool to control and monitor multiple intravenous drug infusions simultaneously using pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles. ⋯ By adopting an evolutionary solution model we have achieved considerable success in building our drug delivery monitor. In addition we have gained valuable insight into the anesthesia information domain that will allow us to further enhance and expand the system.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialNeonatal monitoring after maternal fentanyl analgesia in labor.
To characterize different methods of monitoring neonatal effects associated with maternal opioid analgesia. Special focus was on the static-charge-sensitive bed (SCSB), which could potentially serve as a non-invasive neonatal monitor. ⋯ Several differences were seen between the fentanyl and the control group babies. The SCSB method proved sensitive enough to find neonatal effects of maternal analgesia. Together with ECG and SpO2 monitoring, SCSB gives plentiful information on neonatal well-being in a non-invasive way. Results of this study emphasize the importance of neonatal monitoring after maternal opiate use in labor.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
A proposed method for the measurement of anesthetist care variability.
Some critical events in anesthesiology occur as seemingly preventable misadventures, their exact origins indeterminable. Inexperienced anesthetists, anesthesia machine malfunctions, lack of vigilance and human error inevitably initiate some incidents. Anesthesia training improves recognition and decision-making. Avoiding crisis initiation and amelioration of those that do occur is one role of the consultant anesthesiologist. Safe patient care requires medical and procedural knowledge, technical expertise, and control of resources in a complex milieu. Anesthesia simulators are clinical laboratories where anesthetists can sharpen both cognitive and manual skills. Dynamic scenarios allow opportunities for anesthetists to explore and experience crises as they develop and apply their knowledge while attempting to manage these events. Simulator-based scenarios are reproducible and large amounts of useful data can be collected and saved. The authors hypothesize these data can be utilized to compare performance of anesthetists and to measure improvement of individual anesthetists over time. ⋯ It is suggested that the use of the techniques mentioned here may be of value in the development of a standardized testing protocol for anesthetists.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
Influence of tidal volume and thoraco-abdominal separation on the respiratory induced variation of the photoplethysmogram.
The present study was aimed at determining the relative influences of tidal volume and thoraco-abdominal separation (relative thoracic and abdominal contribution to the tidal volume) on the respiratory induced intensity variation (RIIV) of the photoplethysmographic signal. The effects were studied in two body positions. ⋯ The effects on the RIIV signal following changes in thoraco-abdominal separation and tidal volume are of the same order of magnitude. In the supine position, the influence of thoracic versus abdominal contribution to the tidal volume is not as significant as in the sitting position. Photoplethysmography is a promising technique for combined monitoring of several respiratory parameters, including tidal volume. In situations where the relative thoracic and abdominal contributions are likely to vary, the tidal volume information becomes less reliable.