Clinical significance of ST-segment monitoring

Establishing monitoring guidelines is important for identification of electrophysiologic changes in critically ill patients. Inclusion of continuous ST monitoring can alert critical care nursing staff to ischemia, electrolyte changes, and activity intolerance, as well as provide an objective measurement of the efficacy of nursing interventions. This simple technology, a software addition to the current bedside hardware, can assist in salvaging myocardium, decreasing anxiety by reducing pain episodes and their duration, and identifying early electrophysiologically significant drug and electrolyte changes. Nursing research is essential in establishing additional indications for continuous ST monitoring and in evaluating the usefulness of the continuous 12-lead ST-segment monitoring systems as they come into use.