Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery 2021

Summary: The study found a significant decrease in the rate of general anaesthesia for caesarean section across six maternity units in the north-west of England during the peak of the pandemic. The conversion rate from regional to general anaesthesia also decreased during this period. The obstetric indications for caesarean sections remained stable while the overall caesarean section rate slightly increased.

Summary: This guideline updates and replaces the 5th edition of the Standards of Monitoring published in 2015, providing guidance on minimum monitoring standards for patients undergoing anaesthesia or sedation. It includes standards for monitoring patients during anaesthesia and in the recovery phase, as well as guidance on monitoring patients undergoing sedation and during transfer. New sections on capnography, sedation, and regional anaesthesia have been added, along with updated indications for processed electroencephalogram and neuromuscular monitoring.