What does an apnea monitor do?

An apnea monitor is a specialized device designed to detect and alert healthcare providers if a patient fails to breathe for a specific period. This is particularly important in settings where patients are at risk for respiratory complications, such as those recovering from anesthesia or suffering from certain medical conditions that may affect their breathing.

When the monitor is in use, it continuously assesses the patient's respiratory activity. If it detects a cessation of breathing (apnea), it triggers an alarm to alert caregivers, allowing for immediate intervention. This function is critical in preventing serious consequences that could arise from unmonitored respiratory failure.

The other options, while related to patient monitoring, do not accurately describe the primary function of an apnea monitor. Monitoring blood pressure or airway resistance involves different devices and techniques, and measuring blood oxygen levels is typically done with a pulse oximeter, not an apnea monitor. Therefore, understanding that the primary role of an apnea monitor is to detect and alert for the absence of breaths helps clarify its importance in patient safety management.