title: Is ECG monitoring in the operating room cost effective?
abstract: ECG monitoring during anesthesia detects many arrhythmias, even in healthy patients. The clinical significance of these arrhythmias is uncertain. However, a conservative analysis of the cost of ECG monitoring in the USA reveals that the prevention of cardiac arrests occurring in 1 of 3,500 cases is quite cost effective. Routine ECG monitoring for all anesthetics in the USA is recommended.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000758:Anesthesia; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006326:Heart Auscultation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000191:economics*; D009873:Operating Rooms; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors