What are cardiac monitors?

What are cardiac monitors?

Cardiac monitors are devices with displays to show ECG, heart rate and other parameters on a continuous basis, usually used in the intensive care unit or operation theatre. Earlier cardiac monitors had just ECG and heart rate displays. Current multi parameter monitors have invasive and non invasive blood pressure, respiration, pulse oximetry, pacemaker sensing and various other monitoring possibilities. It can give out alarms if heart rate or any other parameter is beyond the set limits. Some times the number of alarms are so many that ICU staff may develop “alarm fatigue” and stop responding to alarms. Hence alarm limits should be set appropriately and monitoring should be done only when essential.