Development and evaluation of a graphical anesthesia drug display.
BACKGROUND
Usable real-time displays of intravenous anesthetic concentrations and effects could significantly enhance intraoperative clinical decision-making. Pharmacokinetic models are available to estimate past, present, and future drug effect-site concentrations, and pharmacodynamic models are available to predict the drug's associated physiologic effects.


METHODS
An interdisciplinary research team (bioengineering, architecture, anesthesiology, computer engineering, and cognitive psychology) developed a graphic display that presents the real-time effect-site concentrations, normalized to the drugs' EC(95), of intravenous drugs. Graphical metaphors were created to show the drugs' pharmacodynamics. To evaluate the effect of the display on the management of total intravenous anesthesia, 15 anesthesiologists participated in a computer-based simulation study. The participants cared for patients during two experimental conditions: with and without the drug display.


RESULTS
With the drug display, clinicians administered more bolus doses of remifentanil during anesthesia maintenance. There was a significantly lower variation in the predicted effect-site concentrations for remifentanil and propofol, and effect-site concentrations were maintained closer to the drugs' EC(95). There was no significant difference in the simulated patient heart rate and blood pressure with respect to experimental condition. The perceived performance for the participants was increased with the drug display, whereas mental demand, effort, and frustration level were reduced. In a post-simulation questionnaire, participants rated the display to be a useful addition to anesthesia monitoring.


CONCLUSIONS
The drug display altered simulated clinical practice. These results, which will inform the next iteration of designs and evaluations, suggest promise for this approach to drug data visualization.
Syroid
Noah D
ND
Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132-2304, USA. noahs@abl.med.utah.edu
Agutter
James
J
Drews
Frank A
FA
Westenskow
Dwayne R
DR
Albert
Robert W
RW
Bermudez
Julio C
JC
Strayer
David L
DL
Prenzel
Hauke
H
Loeb
Robert G
RG
Weinger
Matthew B
MB
D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003626:Data Display; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous