BIOSIGN/spl trade/ : multi-parameter monitoring for early warning of patient deterioration

Early recognition of abnormalities in the physiological parameters of hospital patients followed by rapid intervention should result in an improvement in functional outcome or mortality rate. We have developed a real-time system, BioSign/spl trade/, capable of analysing physiological parameters in order to identify adverse trends in multi-parameter space (departure from "normality") and prompt clinical staff to intervene. The model of normality is based on five vital signs, which can all be recorded non-invasively: the heart rate, blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, respiration rate and temperature. We have evaluated the trained model of normality in a two-year randomised controlled trial of 405 patients monitored on general medical and surgical wards. Preliminary results show that BioSign/spl trade/ can provide early warning of changes in clinical status and deterioration in patient condition.