anesthesiamonitoring

Anesthesiamonitoring refers to the continuous assessment of a patient’s physiologic status during anesthesia with the goal of maintaining oxygenation, ventilation, circulation, and an appropriate depth of anesthesia while preventing perioperative complications. It integrates data from multiple sensors, clinical signs, and laboratory measurements to guide airway management, hemodynamic support, and pharmacologic therapy.

Key domains include airway and ventilation monitoring (pulse oximetry for oxygenation, capnography for ventilation, airway pressures, tidal volume, and ventilator settings), circulation monitoring (ECG, noninvasive blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm; arterial lines when precise arterial pressures are needed; central venous or pulmonary artery catheters in selected cases), and temperature monitoring. Depth of anesthesia and analgesia are assessed with clinical signs, end-tidal or inspired gas measurements, and, when available, processed EEG indices such as BIS or entropy. Neuromuscular monitoring with train-of-four guides blockade and reversal. Additional monitoring includes arterial blood gases, urine output, and selective cerebral oximetry in certain procedures.

Monitors support intraoperative decision-making and alarms; data trends are captured in electronic anesthesia records. Postoperative monitoring in the recovery room or ICU detects early complications, ensures oxygenation and ventilation, and evaluates pain and hemodynamic stability.

Guidelines from professional bodies emphasize appropriate use of monitors, alarm management, and training. Limitations include artifacts and false alarms, device inaccuracy, and dependence on skilled interpretation. The selection of monitors is tailored to patient risk, surgical procedure, and anesthesia plan. Advances continue to expand noninvasive options, cerebral monitoring, multimodal depth assessment, and integration with broader perioperative care systems.