Grenzen des elektronischen monitorings - Die bedeutung klinischer zeichen

Electronic systems play an important role when surveilling critically ill patients on ICU wards. The methods available are plenty and comprise the measurement of basic parameters such as heart rate or arterial blood pressure as well as much more sophisticated tools used, for example, in neuro-monitoring. There is some tendency that more and more emphasis is placed on electronic monitoring. The aftermath is neglect of careful clinical examination. But electronic monitoring has its limitations. It can not replace clinical evaluation by physicians and nursing staff. Electronic data on patients can be interpreted correctly only when reflecting their clinical situation. If clinical findings and electronic data are conflicting, physicians are usually prudent to trust in the former and act accordingly.