Equipment, Monitoring & Human Factors
Use monitoring as part of attentive clinical care and prepare for equipment failure.
Quick revision ↓ Medical Dictionary
01Before starting
Check the anaesthetic delivery system, oxygen supply, suction, airway equipment and emergency resources through the local checklist. Confirm drug labels and access to help. A previously functioning machine is not proof of present readiness, and checks must match the actual planned technique.
02Core observations
Monitoring commonly includes oxygen saturation, ECG, blood pressure and ventilation measures appropriate to the technique. Observe the patient and trends as well as displayed numbers. An alarm can represent genuine deterioration or an artefact, but it must be assessed rather than routinely silenced.
03Capnography
Waveform carbon dioxide monitoring contributes to confirming and monitoring ventilation through an advanced airway. A sudden absent trace requires urgent assessment of the patient, airway and circuit, with other causes considered. Chest movement or condensation alone is not reliable confirmation of tracheal tube placement.
04Neuromuscular and temperature monitoring
Use appropriate quantitative neuromuscular assessment when blockers are given and monitor temperature when indicated. Residual weakness and hypothermia can complicate recovery. The monitoring plan should cover emergence and transfer rather than stopping simply because surgery is complete.
05Team communication
Brief the team, identify anticipated problems and use clear closed-loop communication in a crisis. Check drug identity, concentration and route at administration. Fatigue, interruptions and similar packaging increase error risk; standard processes reduce dependence on memory alone.
High-Yield Revision
- Treat alarms as a prompt to assess.
- Waveform capnography supports airway confirmation and monitoring.
- Monitoring continues through recovery and transfer.
Common Pitfalls
- Using chest movement alone to confirm intubation.
- Silencing recurrent alarms without finding the cause.
References & Further Reading
Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.
Reference review: 29 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.