Anales españoles de pediatría
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The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability of end-tidal CO2 (PetCO2) as a non-invasive guide of PaCO2 in the newborn and to analyze the influence of the relationship between ventilation-perfusion in the correlation between both determinations. ⋯ 1) Monitoring of end-tidal CO2 does not maintain a good correlation with PaCO2 in serious lung illness. 2) End-tidal CO2 measurement is an effective and accurate technique for the monitoring of newborns when the a/AO2 ratio > or = 0.3 and it can be useful for weaning of mechanical ventilation. 3) PaCO2-PetCO2 differences accurately show the changes in the ventilation-perfusion relationship.