My ICU Monitor

Hello.

Today I thought I'd talk to you a little bit about my ICU monitor that I have referred to in a few posts.

Most patients with a trach and a ventilator might just have the conventional Stand Alone Pulse oximeter, for example one like the awesome Masimo Radical 8, or the Nonin 9600 Oximeter, or an Ohmeda TruSat Oximeter.

I have something a lot more like what you would see in the ICU, or the NICU.

It's a full blown Intensive Care Unit Monitor that has modules for monitoring my Oxygen Saturation, which uses Nellcor, and which measures SPO2, Perfusion Index and Pulse Rate, with a Pleth display.

It measures ECCG with Respiratory Monitoring built into the ECG module, so that I can monitor my ECG and see whether I did initiate any breaths during the night, or whether I road the vent all night, which is what I always have done, and also I can monitor my Blood Pressure continuously throughout the night every few minutes.

This monitor hav alarms built into the monitor, so that if I desat, or something goes in ways that it shouldn't go, I'll get notified, and if I don't wake up, my parents will wake up.

This monitor also has a printer that is activated  whenever there are alarms, or whenever I request a Print Out!

For example, when I had a desat and checked my Oxygen Saturation, the alarm not only sounded along with the blinking number, and red alarm Light, but the printer also printed out a report of the Desat and so I have that for record.

I'm very happy with this monitor as It's essentially at the level of care that I require.
The thing that I don't like is the SPO2 Probe, because It's reusable and honestly, sensors are more reliable for me if they are on my toe.

The reusables are actually capable of being placed on my toe, however It is not the absolute most comfortable placement, as a sensor like the soft Neonate wraps would be more appropriate to place on your toe.

My finger is all right, but there is usually more artifact when I'm on continuous monitoring, and also being that I  do sleep with my hands next to my face, that LED light that is inside of the sensor does get in my eyes and also not only that, but  the sensors that are like a clamp which is what I'm talking about are not really appropriate for Continuously monitoring the patient.

They need to be rotated if this is necessary.

For me, being that I need continuous monitoring, a sensor like the taped on ones, or the Neonatal wrap ones that are a soft fuzzy material that you place the actual probe inside of, are MUCH MUCH more appropriate for a situation such as mine, and also, they're much more comfortable.

So what I'm hoping to get is the stand alone oximeter with the Neonatal Wraps to that I will be much more comfortable and can move my feet around more freely without disturbing the signal.

I will then use the ICU monitor for ECG/RESPIRATORY monitoring, and also for  Blood Pressure Monitoring and for Printing out significant desats.

If I'm ever in a situation where I need Duo Saturation Monitoring, this will be good as well.

There are cases where that actually gets done ya know.

If I had other modules on my monitor I could do stuff like Monitoring my CO2, and if I were in actual ICU I could have modules for Arterial Line monitoring or even Swan Ganz or Central Venous Monitoring.

In essence, this monitor is LOADED with stuff.

It also has calculators so that Oxygenation and Ventilation calculations can  be conducted and even Drug Concentrations.

It has THREE priorities of alarms.

The Low Priority as a very short beep  about 28 Times Per Minute.

This would indicate something like a Sensor being taken off, for example, if I were sleeping and the pulse ox sensor somehow got pulled off me it would indicate that It was accidentally taken off.

The Medium Priority alarm is something a little bit more serious in nature, and there is a Yellow light that you will see on the front of the monitor.

The High Priority alarm is a red light and a much louder alarm and higher in pitch.

If my heart rate starts tanking, you're eventually going to hear this alarm.

If I have a massive desat, you're going to hear this alarm.


My monitor does not have a battery, so If I need continuous monitoring, that means I have to be confined to where the monitor is, which is right beside my bed.
This oximeter I'm  getting is going to allow me much more mobility whilst being continuously monitored as It will most likely have a battery.

LOL, If It doesn't, It will get one, because I love being mobile and that includes when being monitored.

I love my mobility.

I might have respiratory issues that cause pretty significant desats, and I might have to use a vent 24/7 soon, but I'm always going to be as mobile as possible.


Thank you for reading/listening to another blog post, and My God Bless You.

Remember, ONLY HE, can love you PERFECTLY!!