Some Observations on Intensive Therapy Monitoring

Abstract

The care of tlzc critically ill patient depends first and foremost on repeated clinical evaluation by knawlcdgeable medical attendants and iiurses. This clinical evaluation must, however, be sitpplcmented by a variety of monitoring procedures i f optimum care is to be maintained. .Sollie woiiitoriiig techniques are complex, costly and invasive, and the additional information thzy provide nray not be vcry great; it is thus imperative that clear indications f o r these procedures be defincd i f wastayc of money and manpower is to be avoided and the risk of patioit injury wnimized. I n this article several ?itonitoring techniques concerned with central 7rascitlar voluutc arc discussrd in the hope o f providing guide-lines f o r their use and o f stindating further interest in this problem.