Biosignal analysis in the critically ill

According to Peter Macklem 'Between the crystals and weather a sudden phase transition occurs over a small range of energy consumption. It is only there where life can flourish'.In this respect, the term ¿homeokinesis¿ instead of homeostasis has been proposed, as a basic property of living systems that ¿describes the ability of an organism to utilize external energy sources to maintain a highly organized internal environment fluctuating within acceptable limits in a far from equilibrium state¿ Critical illness alters complexity in both time and space, leading to a 'decomplexification'. This effect signals early development of septic shock and multiple organ failure. Personalised care through extracting information from biosignals in the ICU migh unmask hidden information within a signal, which may improve understanding of the pathophysiology of the diseases, promting a pro-active rather than a reactive approach by the caring physician.