Cardiac monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit: an evaluation of electrodes.
Two types of electrodes were evaluated over a six-week period in a neonatal intensive care nursery. Babies requiring monitoring were alternately assigned to either of two groups: Klear-Trace (n = 37) or Sentry (n = 51). Nursing staff monitored a range of variables daily. Klear-Trace electrodes, although slightly more expensive, lasted significantly longer than Sentry electrodes (p > .0001). Factors such as incubator temperature and the weight of the neonate did not affect results, nor was there any difference in the frequency of repositioning electrodes between the two products. Because Klear-Trace electrodes last three times as long as Sentry electrodes (six days as opposed to two days), there may be cost advantages in using Klear-Trace electrodes.
Webster
J
J
McCosker
H
H
D003363:Cost Control; D004566:Electrodes / Q000191:economics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*