The Problem of Artifacts in Patient Monitor Data During Surgery: A Clinical and Methodological Review

Abstract

Artifacts are a significant problem affecting the accurate display of information during surgery. They are also a source of false alarms. A secondary problem is the inadvertent recording of artifactual and inaccurate information in automated record keeping systems. Though most of the currently available patient monitors use techniques to minimize the effect of artifacts, their success is limited. We reviewed the problem of artifacts affecting patient monitor data during surgical cases. Methods adopted by currently marketed patient monitors to eliminate and minimize artifacts due to technical and environmental factors are reviewed and discussed. Also discussed are promising artifact detection and correction methods that are being investigated. These might be used to detect and eliminate artifacts with improved accuracy and specificity.

Precision of transpulmonary thermodilution: how many measurements are necessary?

“…To decrease the effects of technical and biological artefacts [9] during haemodynamic evaluations, we used the mean value of several sets of measurements to form clinical decisions. In this article, we have focused on the precision of flow (cardiac index) and volumetric preload (GEDVI) parameters from the TPTD technique.…”

Forearm and Upper-Arm Oscillometric Blood Pressure Comparison in Acutely III Adults

“…Devices adhering to the Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation standards (mean difference between auscultatory and oscillometric devices is ±5 mm Hg, with a standard deviation ≤8 mm Hg) are typically used in acute care environments (White et al, 1993). Clinical situations such as irregular heart rhythms (Anastas, Jimerson, & Garolis, 2008;Pickering et al, 2005;Systems, 2002), patient movement (Takla, Petre, Doyle, Horibe, & Gopakumaran, 2006;Systems, 2002), severe shock, hypothermia (Davis et al, 2003;Systems, 2002), and obesity (Araghi, Bander, & Guzman, 2006;Systems, 2002) may limit oscillometric device accuracy.…”

Interpretation of Alarm in the ICU

“…Most of these artifacts directly influence the measured signals (11) , leading to incorrect measurements and this, in turn, triggers the alarm. Most common artifacts in day to day practice is shown in table-1.…”