Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration: Use of Observation Charts to Identify Clinical Deterioration

There are observable physiological abnormalities prior to adverse events such as cardiac arrest, unanticipated admissions to intensive care and unexpected death (1-5). Abnormalities in vital signs such as blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse and oxygen saturation are common prior to the occurrence of these serious adverse events. This relationship between changes in physiological measures and subsequent events is the basis for the processes that have been established to recognise and respond to patients who are clinically deteriorating.