Assessment of end-tidal CO2
Assessment of end-tidal CO2 (ETCo2)
The amount of carbon dioxide exhaled at the end of each breathing can be measured using a sensor connected between the patient's airway and ventilator. This then displayed numerically and graphically as a waveform on the cardiac monitor.
ETCO2 provides the clue about respiratory effort.
Normal end-tidal CO2 is 35-45mmaHg.
Hyperventilation causes excess CO2 exhalation, which results in low ETCo2 or hypocapnea.
Important practical use of ETCO2:
1. Evaluating the effectiveness of the chest compression during CPR
2. For high quality chest compression, ETCO2 should be atleast 10-20mmHg.
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