Capnography is the measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a patients exhaled breath over time. It is a medical device that rapidly measures respiratory health to assist healthcare providers to respond sooner when patients are not breathing normally. Capnography measures the amount of CO2 in exhaled air and provides real-time data and graphical waveform readings. It is used to measure the levels of exhaled CO2, also known as End-Tidal CO2 (EtCO2) measurement. Capnography is an ideal predictor of what a patient’s blood oxygen levels will be in the coming moments and allows practitioners to intervene faster.
Capnography is used in various medical settings, including anesthesia, emergency medical services (EMS), and sedation. In an EMS setting, capnography has a multitude of uses. ETCO2 levels are highly indicative of the effectiveness of chest compressions during CPR, and can be the first indicator of a return of spontaneous circulation. Furthermore, capnography can be used to analyze the causes for respiratory distress in patients, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or bronchitis. Capnography is also used to confirm correct advanced airway placement.
Capnography devices are available as hand-held portable devices or as a module or component integrated into other medical equipment, such as defibrillators, anesthesiology machines, and patient-monitoring systems. Capnography is currently the most widely recommended method for monitoring ETCO2. Anesthesiologists have been using capnography for decades to monitor ETCO2 in patients receiving general anesthesia. The monitoring devices help to prevent or reduce adverse events, such as otherwise undetected respiratory depression and hypoxia.
In summary, capnography is a medical device that measures the amount of CO2 in exhaled air and provides real-time data and graphical waveform readings. It is used to measure the levels of exhaled CO2, also known as End-Tidal CO2 (EtCO2) measurement. Capnography is used in various medical settings, including anesthesia, emergency medical services (EMS), and sedation. Capnography devices are available as hand-held portable devices or as a module or component integrated into other medical equipment. Capnography is currently the most widely recommended method for monitoring ETCO2.
