Bedside monitoring tools and advanced signal processing approaches to monitor critically-ill infants.

Abstract

There is a substantial body of literature that supports neonatal monitoring and signal analysis of the collected data to provide valuable insights for improving patient clinical care and to inform new research studies. This comprehensive monitoring approach extends beyond the collection of conventional vital signs to include the acquisition of continuous waveform data from patient monitors and other bedside medical devices. This paper discusses the necessary infrastructure for waveform retrieval from bedside monitors, and explores options provided by leading healthcare companies, third-party vendors or academic research teams to implement scalable monitoring systems across entire critical care units. Additionally, we discuss the application of advanced signal processing that transcend traditional statistics, including heart rate variability in both the time- and frequency-domains, spectral analysis of EEG, and cerebral pressure autoregulation. The infrastructures and signal processing techniques outlined here are indispensable tools for intensivists, empowering them to enhance care for critically ill infants. In addition, we briefly address the emergence of advanced tools for fetal monitoring.