Journal of clinical monitoring
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The purposes of this study were to evaluate the clinical utility of a colorimetric end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) detector in confirming proper endotracheal intubation in patients requiring emergency intubation, to determine if this new device can be used as an adjunct to judge the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to determine whether the device can predict successful resuscitation from cardiopulmonary arrest. We studied prospectively 110 patients requiring emergency intubation for either respiratory distress (53 patients) or cardiopulmonary arrest (57 patients) by recording the color range of the indicator after the initial intubation. In patients who suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest, the color range was also recorded during CPR after the endotracheal tube was confirmed to be in the tracheal position and perfusion optimized, and at the moment CPR was stopped. ⋯ A low ETCO2 color range in 19 patients undergoing CPR was interpreted as low cardiac output and prompted the physicians to attempt to increase perfusion. Of the patients who underwent CPR, no patient whose ETCO2 level remained less than 2% was successfully resuscitated. Those patients who had an ETCO2 level greater than or equal to 2% had a significantly higher incidence of successful resuscitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Comparative Study
End-tidal carbon dioxide pressure in neonates and infants measured by aspiration and flow-through capnography.
In 25 anesthetized, intubated, artificially ventilated, and paralyzed healthy neonates and infants, end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) measured by remote multiplexed mass spectrometry was 1.86 +/- 1.58 mm Hg lower than arterial PCO2 (PaCO2). PETCO2 measured by a flow-through cuvette was 1.02 +/- 1.64 mm Hg lower than PaCO2. The difference between the two methods of capnography was not significant. ⋯ Values for PETCO2 obtained with flow-through capnography changed -0.17 +/- 2.17 mm Hg from baseline after 15 minutes. In both methods, the changes from baseline in PETCO2 over time were not significant. These results suggest that both methods of capnography studied are reliable and may be used safely in neonates despite high sample flow rates and added apparatus dead space (0.6 ml for tracheal tubes less than or equal to 4.0 mm OD and 4.9 ml for tracheal tubes greater than 4.0 mm OD).