Evaluation of respiratory volume monitoring (RVM) to detect respiratory compromise in advance of pulse oximetry and help minimize false desaturation alarms.

Background: Monitoring respiratory function is important. By continuously monitoring respiratory volumes, respiratory depression could be identified prior to hypoxemia and drive earlier intervention. Here we evaluate the temporal relationship of respiratory volume monitoring (RVM, providing real-time minute ventilation (MV), tidal volume, and respiratory rate in non-intubated patients) to hypoxemic episodes and its potential to help classify True vs False Desaturations (related to patient movement/probe dislodgement). Methods: RVM data, oxygen saturation (SpO2), oxygen supplementation and opioid use were analyzed from 259 patients following orthopedic surgery. Detection of "LowMV"(= one LowMV event. Patients with LowMV had significantly longer PACU LOS than those maintaining "Adequate MV", 2.8+/- 0.1hr vs. 2.4+/- 0.1hr (p

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