Computer monitoring of cardiodynamics in the newborn

We believe we have arrived at a satisfactory method for determining cardiac output using a new pulse contour method for the tiny subject and that this is in acceptable agreement with more conventional methods of measuring cardiac output. The availability of approximate cardiac output every minute hopefully will increase the ability of the clinician to identify crises more rapidly in newborns, to follow progress of drug and other therapy, and to evaluate the place of cardiac output when used in conjunction with other tests in clinical evaluation. The computer, moreover, makes significant contributions in updating nursing and medical data, encourages independent thinking in research-oriented projects, and permits frequent integration of a variety of situations. The quality of an intensive care facility is dependent upon the ability of physicians to utilize all available information and to identify alterations in physiologic trends, rather than on monitoring devices alone.