Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Hosts Capitol Hill Briefing to Urge Adoption of Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring as Standard of Care

, /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) proudly hosted a Capitol Hill briefing, highlighting the critical need to update anesthesia monitoring standards to include continuous blood pressure monitoring.

Current intermittent blood pressure monitoring devices frequently miss dangerous drops in blood pressure during surgery, which is associated with preventable patient harm. APSF urges the healthcare ecosystem, including medical societies, providers, and insurance companies, to embrace technological advancements in continuous blood pressure monitoring and establish it as the global standard of care to enhance patient safety.

Each year, one in nine people in the U.S. undergo surgical procedures, and studies show that \hypotension) during surgery. Such episodes are linked to serious complications including heart damage, kidney injury, stroke, and mortality. These risks extend to maternal health, where rapid blood pressure changes during procedures like cesarean delivery can endanger both mother and baby.

Dr. May C. M. Pian-Smith, MD, MS, from APSF, said, "Our patients deserve safe and reliable monitoring. Continuous blood pressure monitoring is transforming perioperative care and significantly reducing preventable harm."

"The adoption of continuous blood pressure monitoring as the minimal monitoring standard will be a watershed moment in patient safety," said Professor Monty Mythen, MBBS, MD, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Advanced Patient Monitoring at BD. "This technology allows clinicians to detect and treat hypotension early, eliminating the blind spots inherent with traditional intermittent cuffs."

From a maternal health perspective, Dr. Meghan MacCleary, DO, OBGYN at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, highlighted the stakes: "During cesarean deliveries, blood pressure can fluctuate rapidly, and continuous monitoring is essential to protect both mothers and babies. This technology enhances clinical decision-making in real time and improves safety for some of our most vulnerable patients."

The briefing was co-sponsored by Biocom California, Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD), and California Life Sciences, reflecting a strong coalition committed to advancing patient safety through innovative monitoring technologies.

This broad support underscores the importance of modernizing clinical standards to enhance patient safety by adopting continuous blood pressure monitoring. The APSF calls on global healthcare providers, medical societies, and policymakers to join this vital movement and urges stakeholders to visit the campaign website at www.apsf.org/continuous-bp-monitoring/ to learn more, access educational resources, and find out how to get involved.

About the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF)
The APSF is dedicated to improving anesthesia patient safety through research, education, and advocacy. The Foundation works collaboratively with professional societies, government agencies, and industry to promote best practices and innovations that enhance patient care.

Media Contact
Stacey Maxwell
[email protected]

Spokesperson
Dr. Daniel J. Cole, MD
President, APSF
[email protected] 

SOURCE Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation