Patient Monitors - Basics
| Abbreviation / other name | Bedside monitor, Physiological Monitoring System, Vital signs
monitor Monitor = to keep a check and display. |
| What does it do? |
Patient Monitors gather vital medical information from the
patient, display it on a screen and alerts medical staff of
any undesirable health condition. |
| Physiology |
Patient monitors record many parameters from the patient
by using different methods. The parameters can include ECG,
IBP, NIBP, temperature, SpO2, cardiac output, heart rate, respiration
rate, respiratory gases, EEG and transcutaneous blood gasses. |
| How it works | The monitor gathers patient data using various methods for
the different parameters (see sections on ECG, IBP, NIBP, temperature,
SpO2, cardiac output, heart rate, respiration rate, respiratory
gases, EEG and transcutaneous blood gasses) The inputs are then
amplified and processed and are displayed as a waveform and/or
a numerical value. Alarm limits can then be adjusted to desired
levels to alert the medical staff of undesirable health conditions. |
| Units of measurement |
Heart rate: beats per minute (BPM), Blood pressures: mmHg, Temperature: degrees Celsius (oC), SPO2: %, Cardiac Output: litres per minute (L/min), Respiratory Rate: breaths per min (BPM), Respiratory gases: % or partial pressure mmHg |
| Typical values |
ADULT: Heart Rate: 50-90 BPM, Blood pressure: 120/80 (100) mmHg, Temperature: 37oC, SPO2: 95-100%, Cardiac Output: 6 L/min, Respiratory Rate: 12 BPM, Expired gases: Nitrogen 79%, Oxygen 17%, Carbon dioxide 4% Neonates: Heart Rate: 120-180 BPM, Blood pressure: ??? Temperature: 37oC, SPO2: 95-98%, Cardiac Output: ?? mL/min, Respiratory Rate: 40-80 BPM, Expired gases: Nitrogen 79%, Oxygen 17%, Carbon dioxide 4%.. |
| Picture of equipment |
|
 GE Marquette Dash |
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