Continuous auditory monitoring--how much information do we register?

Craven, R M; McIndoe, A K · Br J Anaesth · 1999

rct · Level II

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Abstract

We have studied response times of 30 anaesthetists to a standardized episode of arterial oxygen desaturation in a simulated patient, randomized to the use of either a fixed or variable pitch pulse oximeter. We wished to determine if a variable auditory signal was important in detecting adverse events. A variable pitch pulse signal had a shorter time to recognition of desaturation (P < 0.0001), with a mean response time of 32 s, compared with 129 s for the fixed pitch signal.

Medical subject headings