'If you don't take a temperature, you can't find a fever': relevance to continuous arterial pressure monitoring

Abstract

Intraoperative hypotension is common and is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. A substantial fraction of all perioperative hypotension occurs shortly after induction of anaesthesia and before the procedure begins. Arterial pressure monitoring is usually intermittent in this period, with a risk of missing significant hypotensive events. Continuous blood pressure monitoring might help reduce hypotension. There are now strong arguments that if an arterial line is indicated, it should be placed before induction of anaesthesia to obtain maximal benefit.

Keywords: blood pressure; continuous blood pressure monitoring; haemodynamic monitoring; hypotension; perioperative care.