Respiratory monitoring using photoplethysmography-evaluation in the postoperative care unit

A new respiratory monitoring device has been evaluated in the postoperative care unit at Linkoping University Hospital, Sweden. The purpose of the study was to compare the new photoplethysmographic device to more established techniques. Continuous data acquisition from 16 patients (each 1 h long), were performed. The respiratory signals from the photoplethysmographic device were compared to impedance plethysmographic signals. Conclusions from the evaluation are that the performance of the new device is comparable with the impedance method, and in some cases even more reliable.