TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing validity of infant monitor alarms with event recording
AU - Weese-Mayer, Debra E.
AU - Brouillette, Robert T.
AU - Morrow, Anna S.
AU - Conway, Linda P.
AU - Klemka-Walden, Linda M.
AU - Hunt, Carl E.
PY - 1989/11
Y1 - 1989/11
N2 - We evaluated the performance of an event recorder system in a large, consecutive series of referred monitored patients to determine the relative incidence of true apnea and true bradycardia, false alarms, and alarms for movement or a loose lead. In addition, we developed an event classification system based on the reason for the event being recorded. The recorder stored transthoracic impedance and electrocardiogram signals on a floppy disk before, during, and after each monitor alarm. These events on 302 disks from 83 patients were analyzed and classified as true, false, or movement-loose lead. Of 14,131 events, only 8% were caused by apnea or bradycardia (true events). Of true events, 70% were triggered by apnea and 30% by bradycardia. These true events occurred in 48% of the patients. False alarms constituted 23%, and movement-loose lead 69%, of all events. Even when movement-loose lead events were excluded, nearly three of four events were found to be false. Event recording proved helpful clinically, allowing discontinuation of the monitor in 49% of patients, modification of monitor alarm settings, or reassurance and counseling for parents.
AB - We evaluated the performance of an event recorder system in a large, consecutive series of referred monitored patients to determine the relative incidence of true apnea and true bradycardia, false alarms, and alarms for movement or a loose lead. In addition, we developed an event classification system based on the reason for the event being recorded. The recorder stored transthoracic impedance and electrocardiogram signals on a floppy disk before, during, and after each monitor alarm. These events on 302 disks from 83 patients were analyzed and classified as true, false, or movement-loose lead. Of 14,131 events, only 8% were caused by apnea or bradycardia (true events). Of true events, 70% were triggered by apnea and 30% by bradycardia. These true events occurred in 48% of the patients. False alarms constituted 23%, and movement-loose lead 69%, of all events. Even when movement-loose lead events were excluded, nearly three of four events were found to be false. Event recording proved helpful clinically, allowing discontinuation of the monitor in 49% of patients, modification of monitor alarm settings, or reassurance and counseling for parents.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0024445392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0024445392&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0022-3476(89)80645-6
DO - 10.1016/S0022-3476(89)80645-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 2681636
AN - SCOPUS:0024445392
VL - 115
SP - 702
EP - 708
JO - Journal of Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Pediatrics
SN - 0022-3476
IS - 5 PART 1
ER -