Photo-electric plethysmography as a monitoring device in anaesthesia. Application and interpretation
Dorlas, J.C.; Nijboer, J.A.
British Journal of Anaesthesia 57(5): 524-530
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0912 PMID: 3994887 Document Number: 258446
The optical principle of photo-electric plethysomography is described and the clinical significance of changes in the amplitude of the plethysomgram discussed. Physiologically, changes in blood volume pulsations depend on the distensibility of the vessel wall as well as on the intravascular pulse pressure. The importance of both factors in the interpretation of changes in the arterial pulse amplitude is illustrated by examples from 500 continuous recordings. Changes in the height of ventilatory waves may be of diagnostic significance.