Dennis M J
Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Victoria.
Aust Crit Care. 2000 Mar;13(1):14-20. doi: 10.1016/s1036-7314(00)70611-4.
The plethysmograph, a useful, non-invasive circulatory assessment capability featured on most modern pulse oximeters, provides a waveform representation of pulsatile peripheral blood flow, from which can be drawn assessments of both the peripheral and central circulation. Implementation and maintenance of plethysmography monitoring is straightforward and uncomplicated by virtue of its non-invasiveness. Yet despite its capabilities, ease of use and widespread availability it remains an underutilised data source. Diagnostic and monitoring capabilities of the device include heart rate and rhythm monitoring, detection of myocardial and valvular dysfunction, assessment of intra-aortic balloon pump performance when pressure waveforms are unobtainable, detection and measurement of pulsus paradoxus, improved performance of the Allen's test and detection of peripheral vascular diseases, peripheral vasoconstriction and developing shock. This paper describes the range of established applications of plethysmography, reviews pertinent literature and describes the directions in which, in the absence of supportive literature, clinical practice is finding applications.
体积描记器是大多数现代脉搏血氧仪具备的一种有用的、非侵入性循环评估功能，它能提供搏动性外周血流的波形图，据此可对外周和中心循环进行评估。由于其非侵入性，体积描记法监测的实施和维护简单直接。然而，尽管它具备多种功能、使用方便且广泛可用，但它仍然是一个未得到充分利用的数据源。该设备的诊断和监测功能包括心率和心律监测、心肌和瓣膜功能障碍的检测、在无法获取压力波形时评估主动脉内球囊泵的性能、奇脉的检测和测量、改良艾伦试验的性能提升以及外周血管疾病、外周血管收缩和休克发展的检测。本文描述了体积描记法已确立的应用范围，回顾了相关文献，并描述了在缺乏支持性文献的情况下临床实践正在探索应用的方向。
