Monitoring During Anesthesia

Overview

How will you be monitored during anesthesia?

Several types of equipment may be used to watch you when you have anesthesia. They include:

• A blood pressure cuff.
• A pulse oximeter to measure the level of oxygen in your blood.
• An electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) to check your heart activity.
• A temperature probe to measure skin or internal body temperature.
• Tools on the anesthesia machine to measure the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in your breath.

Other devices may also be used, depending on your condition, the type of procedure you're having, and the type of anesthesia used. They include:

• Catheters that are put into certain arteries or veins to measure blood pressure or heart or lung function.
• A transesophageal echocardiograph to monitor the heart.