title: [Usefulness and limitations of monitoring in perioperative care: preface and comments].
abstract: The goals of monitoring are to improve the safety of perioperative care and to improve patient's outcome. Various invasive and non-invasive monitors are currently used. Minimum monitoring standards including blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiogram, pulse oximetry, capnography, temperature monitoring, and neuromuscular monitoring are essential but not enough to achieve the goals. Although emerging technologies have made it possible to monitor cardiac, cerebral and spinal functions in the perioperative period, there is limited evidence that those monitors can improve patient's outcome. We must continue to improve the functions of monitors. The existence of a well-trained competent anesthesiologist at bedside is essential to integrate all the information gained by five senses, the monitors, blood tests and close communication with surgeons on top of deep understanding of the patient's preoperative status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8431.
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inada
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D001831:Body Temperature; D056805:Consciousness Monitors; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011379:Prognosis