A unified approach to providing general anaesthesia monitoring with special reference to developing countries

Information concerning general anaesthesia, monitoring and ergonomics has been assembled to present a plan for the introduction of necessary monitors into a department of anaesthesia. This includes reference to: (i) The need for instrumental monitors; (ii) Division of tasks between anaesthetist and monitor; (iii) User education; (iv) Anaesthetist/monitor interface; (v) Hospital infrastructure. Emphasis is placed on the continued need for anaesthetists to employ their own senses for monitoring in the traditional manner and the essential role instrumental monitors should play in helping trainees to refine and calibrate their clinical skills. It is suggested that in situations where neither mechanical ventilators are available nor instrumental monitors necessary to refine the conduct of general anaesthesia a transitional stage in evolution could be the presence of two persons with clearly defined responsibilities for all the anaesthesia tasks necessary during a safely conducted case.