A SOFTWARE PACKAGE FOR NONINVASIVE, REAL-TIME BEAT-TO-BEAT MONITORINGOF STROKE VOLUME, BLOOD-PRESSURE, TOTAL PERIPHERAL RESISTANCE AND FORASSESSMENT OF AUTONOMIC FUNCTION

The goal of the present study was to develop and evaluate algorithms f or non-invasive, real-time, beat-to-beat monitoring of stroke index (S I), blood pressure (BP) and total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) w hich has a menu-driven interface, suitable for routine use by unskille d staff. In addition, it was our aim to include a mete-analysis for th e evaluation of autonomic function derived from the above haemodynamic data. This includes spectral analysis of heart rate (HR), BP, SI and TPRI and the automatic calculation of baroreceptor reflex sensitivity. Impedance cardiography was used for beat-to-beat SI determination, Fi napres(TM) corrected by an oscillometric blood pressure measurement (D inamap(R)) on the upper arm for beat-to-beat BP measurement. We demons trate noise free recordings during physiological (head up tilt) and ph armacological intervention (alpha(1)-, beta(2)-adrenoreceptor agonists , insulin induced hypoglycemia). The newly developed software should p rove valuable for physiological, pharmacological and clinical studies. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.