[Monitoring routines at Danish anesthesia departments]

By means of a questionnaire investigation, 84 Danish anaesthetic departments were questioned in January 1987 about their monitoring routines during anaesthesia and recovery. 100% replied. The investigation revealed that measurement of the blood pressure in adults was the routine in all of the departments. Patients were monitored routinely with EGG in 62 departments where minor surgical interventions were concerned while, in major surgical intervention, ECG monitoring was the routine in 91% of the departments. Patients were observed postoperatively in the recovery room or intensive care unit in 51% of the departments. The questionnaire investigation revealed great variation in the monitoring and supervision routines in the anaesthetic departments in Denmark. Hitherto, it has not been possible to demonstrate that monitoring of the functions of vital organs in operation patients can reduce the morbidity and mortality connected with the anaesthesia. It is concluded that it would be desirable to carry out clinically controlled investigations to illustrate whether monitoring equipment can reduce the morbidity connected with anaesthesia and to develop a Danish recommendation concerning peroperative monitoring and postoperative observation.