Parameter | Clinical findings |
Respiratory | Tachypnea >35 breaths per minute* |
Respiratory distress such as use of accessory muscles, thoracoabdominal paradox |
Hemodynamic | Heart rate >140 beats/minute or a sustained increase of >20% |
Heart rate <50 beats/minute |
Systolic blood pressure >180 mmHg or <90 mmHg |
Gas exchange | Inadequate oxygenation (eg, peripheral saturation <90%, although lower saturations to 88% may be tolerated in chronically hypoxemic patients; arterial oxygen tension <50 mmHg) |
Inadequate ventilation (eg, an increase in PaCO2 of >10 mmHg from pre-weaning value or a decrease in the pH >0.1 from the pre-weaning value) |
Neurologic | Reduced mental status (eg, somnolence, agitation, delirium) |
Other | Diaphoresis |