[A computerized anesthesia record system: four years' experience]

A computerized anesthesia record system is in routine use for cardiovascular procedures in our operating rooms. This system is implemented on an NEC PC-9801 personal computer and automatically collects hemodynamic variables from a polygraph as well as from intraoperative laboratory reports via RS-232C ports. Events such as intubation can be entered manually using a standard keyboard. Since the introduction of the system in 1987, the system has been used in 90 percent of the total cases performed and 2941 electronic data files were recorded in a four-year period. Excluding some short procedures for which the system was not used, failure to store records on disks resulted from system errors due to power-line troubles in the operating rooms as well as users' omission to command the system. User-acceptance of event entry was poor. In 74 percent of the cases, not a single event was entered. Advantage of an automated anesthesia record system over a hand-written record is being recognized. Wide-spread use of such a system will require ergonomic design of the system and man-machine interfaces suitable for use in an operating room.