Respiratory Monitoring in General Care Units

Respiratory compromise is a common and potentially dangerous complication of patients admitted to general care units of hospitals. There are several distinct and disparate pathophysiologic trajectories of respiratory deterioration that hospitalized patients may suffer. Obstructive sleep apnea and preexisting cardiopulmonary disease increase the risk of respiratory failure after major surgery. Patients in general care units of hospitals currently receive only intermittent monitoring of vital signs. Early warning systems that utilize analysis of intermittently collected vital signs may result in earlier recognition of clinical deterioration. Continuous monitoring of oximetry and capnography may allow the detection of pathophysiologic abnormalities earlier in patients in general care units, but the evidence for improved clinical outcomes remains weak. Increased monitoring may lead to increased monitor alarms that can have negative effects on patient care.