Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring Advocated for Enhanced Patient Safety in Surgery

On June 10, 2025, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) convened a crucial briefing on Capitol Hill to advocate for the implementation of continuous blood pressure monitoring as a standard practice in anesthesia care. This initiative seeks to underscore the alarming deficiencies in current monitoring standards that may jeopardize patient safety during surgical procedures.

The current reliance on intermittent blood pressure monitoring techniques poses significant risks. Evidence shows that these devices often fail to identify critical drops in blood pressure during surgical interventions. Such omissions can lead to serious, preventable injuries, explaining the APSF's urgent call for a shift towards continuous monitoring technology. According to recent studies, about one in nine individuals in the United States undergo surgical procedures yearly, and significant hypotension observed during surgery correlates with severe complications, including heart damage, kidney failure, stroke, and even death.

From the perspective of maternal healthcare, this topic holds immediate significance. A notable figure in this discussion, Dr. Meghan MacCleary, an OBGYN at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, remarked on the importance of real-time monitoring during cesarean sections. The unstable blood pressure levels during such delivery procedures can place both mother and baby at risk, making the need for continuous monitoring paramount. Dr. MacCleary emphasized that this technological advancement not only improves decision-making for healthcare providers but ultimately enhances the safety of some of the most vulnerable patient populations.

In her speech during the briefing, Dr. May C. M. Pian-Smith, MD, MS, articulated the foundation's core position: "Our patients deserve safe and reliable monitoring. Continuous blood pressure monitoring is transforming perioperative care and significantly reducing preventable harm." These sentiments resonate throughout the healthcare community, especially among supporters of continuous monitoring.

Recognizing the demand for effective solutions in patient monitoring, Professor Monty Mythen, MBBS, MD, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Advanced Patient Monitoring for BD, highlighted the transformative potential of continuous monitoring technology. He firmly stated, "The adoption of continuous blood pressure monitoring as the minimal monitoring standard will be a watershed moment in patient safety. This technology enables clinicians to detect and address hypotension proactively, thereby eliminating the blind spots associated with traditional intermittent cuffs."

The briefing received co-sponsorship from notable organizations, including Biocom California and Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), showcasing a united front committed to improving patient safety through groundbreaking monitoring innovations. Such a collaborative effort accentuates the essential need for contemporary clinical standards that can adapt to technological advancements in patient care.

The APSF is appealing to healthcare providers, medical societies, and policymakers worldwide to rally behind this essential initiative. They invite stakeholders to learn more and engage in this movement through their campaign website at www.apsf.org/continuous-bp-monitoring/. The organization emphasizes that ensuring patient safety is a shared responsibility—one that demands unified action in the face of evolving medical challenges.

About the APSF

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation is devoted to improving anesthesia patient safety through rigorous research, education, and advocacy. By collaborating with professional societies, government agencies, and industry leaders, they promote best practices and innovations that enhance patient care, ultimately aiming for a healthcare system where every patient is safeguarded against preventable harms from anesthetic procedures.