Capnography in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Recent technical innovations have made portable cap nographic monitoring systems available for intensive care unit use. Some of these systems require little tech nical expertise to operate. Capnography has several clin ically relevant applications. It may be used as a monitor of respiration (apnea monitor), of wasted ventilation, or as a reflection of arterial carbon dioxide tension. In some clinical settings, it may provide information about changes in lung perfusion or carbon dioxide produc tion. Because this technique is noninvasive and con tinuous, it offers certain advantages over intermittent arterial blood gas monitoring. The advantages and limi tations of this technique are discussed.