Abstract
The ergonomics of the anesthesia workstation have been examined, and a novel apparatus for monitoring depth of anesthesia has been developed. The depth measuring apparatus works by detecting esophageal motility during anesthesia and displaying the resulting data to the clinician. Esophageal activity is mediated by the vagus nerve and brain stem, and co-varies with the degree of brain stem activity, therefore it can be used to estimate depth of anesthesia. Moreover, the location and availability of the esophagus allow minimally-invasive monitoring of many other vital functions and the displaying of these functions on a single integrated monitor. This enables the clinician to derive from a single low-risk monitoring site a more comprehensive picture of the patient's physiological state. Data derived from clinical trials and research now underway in the UK and US tend to support these views. Now in its embryonic form, this research is being directed toward an integrated anesthesia monitor which will ultimately improve the ergonomics and economics of anesthesia delivery.
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