Get Etco2 Monitoring (capnography)

Capnography is the monitoring of the concentration or partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in the respiratory gases. It is usually presented as a graph of expiratory CO2 . An infrared signal is used to detect the level of carbon dioxide at the ending plateau waveform during exhalation to capture alveolar gas.

The amount of carbon dioxide exhaled at the end of each breath (EtCO2) is measured through a sensor located between the patient's airway and ventilator and is then numerically and graphically displayed as a waveform.

Two sensors can be used to measure capnography. In patients who are breathing, nasal prongs can be applied that capture exhaled air. Those prongs can also be used to administer a small amount of oxygen, or applied underneath a non-rebreather or CPAP mask.

End-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) monitoring is a noninvasive technique which measures the partial pressure or maximal concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) at the end of an exhaled breath, which is expressed as a percentage of CO2 or mmHg. The normal values are 5% to 6% CO2, which is equivalent to 35-45 mmHg.

ETCO2 provides clues about respiratory effort In people with healthy lungs, the brain responds to changes in CO2 levels in the bloodstream to control ventilation. We assess this by observing chest rise and fall, assessing respiratory effort, counting respiratory rate, and listening to breath sounds.

Capnography provides a rapid and reliable method to detect life-threatening conditions (malposition of tracheal tubes, unsuspected ventilatory failure, circulatory failure and defective breathing circuits) and to circumvent potentially irreversible patient injury.

ETCO2 can be recommended as a noninvasive method for determination of metabolic acidosis and can be used to detect early metabolic acidosis in patients with spontaneous breathing, however, ABG should be used as the gold standard for diagnosis and management of treatment (60).

End-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) monitoring is a noninvasive technique which measures the partial pressure or maximal concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) at the end of an exhaled breath, which is expressed as a percentage of CO2 or mmHg. The normal values are 5% to 6% CO2, which is equivalent to 35-45 mmHg.

End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETco2) monitoring provides valuable information about CO2 production and clearance (ventilation). Also called capnometry or capnography, this noninvasive technique provides a breath-by-breath analysis and a continuous recording of ventilatory status.