Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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Internet teleconferencing software can be used to hold "virtual" meetings, during which participants around the world can share ideas. A core group of anesthetic medical practitioners, largely consisting of the Society for Advanced Telecommunications in Anesthesia (SATA), has begun to hold regularly scheduled "virtual grand rounds." This paper examines currently available software and offers impressions of our own early experiences with this technology. Two teleconferencing systems have been used: White Pine Software CU-SeeMe and Microsoft NetMeeting. ⋯ While some effort is necessary to get these teleconferencing systems to work well, we have been using desktop conferencing for six months to hold virtual Internet meetings. The sound and video images produced by Internet teleconferencing software are inferior to dedicated point-to-point teleconferencing systems. However, low cost, wide availability, and ease of use make this technology a potentially valuable tool for clinicians and researchers.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 1998
Comparative StudyComparison of blood pressure measured by oscillometry from the supraorbital artery and invasively from the radial artery.
In previous studies, oscillometric blood pressure measured from the supraorbital artery has been shown to agree quite well with pressure measured from the brachial artery in normal subjects. In this study, surgical patients whose conditions warranted the use of invasive blood pressure monitoring during the surgery were chosen. We compared systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured oscillometrically from the supraorbital artery with intraarterial blood pressures, measured invasively from the radial artery. ⋯ For the systolic pressure, the difference between the two methods was -9.9 +/- 17.9 mm Hg (mean +/- SD). For diastolic pressure, the difference was -8.0 +/- 10.9 mm Hg. There was a significant difference between the two methods in the patient population chosen in this study.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComputer aided monitor-data processing (CAMP). A landmark for unbiased gauging of anaesthetic courses?
A computer aided monitor-data processing system (CAMP-System) was developed in order to get a consistent and comprehensive database which can very precisely reflect intra-operative haemodynamic courses. The goal of the present study was to introduce a new method to scan and to gauge haemodynamic courses and to demonstrate its superiority over the traditional way of data processing based on a handwritten anaesthesia protocol. ⋯ Computerized data processing including automatic artifact suppression and data condensation was able to reveal differences in the course of haemodynamic variables that cannot be detected in a conventional handwritten protocol.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 1998
Comparative StudyMethane influences infrared technique anesthetic agent monitors.
During closed-circuit anesthesia, anesthetic vapor analysis by infrared absorption at 3.3 microm can be influenced by the concentration of accumulated methane, resulting in inaccurate readings of anesthetic concentrations. The current study examined the influence of different known methane concentrations on the analysis of halothane or isoflurane concentrations by the infrared absorption technique. ⋯ In closed circuit or low-flow anesthesia, in which methane can accumulate, infrared measuring techniques for potent inhalation anesthetics that do not use the 3.3 microm wavelength appear to be preferable.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 1998
Comparative StudyDevelopment and assessment of a computer-based preanesthetic patient evaluation system for obstetrical anesthesia.
Computerization of the medical record in various outpatient settings has been successful but for anesthesiologists, the preoperative visit differs significantly. This study implemented a computerized version of a structured preanesthetic evaluation questionnaire that we had previously developed and which provided a starting point for developing a suitable vocabulary and workflow. ⋯ The introduction of a computer into the physician-patient relationship did not disrupt the examination. It markedly reduced time-consuming tasks (such as dictation), captured far more detail than found in our previously dictated and handwritten notes and provided immediately available data for quality assurance activities.