Capnography

Capnography is the continuous measurement and display of carbon dioxide concentration in exhaled breath. It commonly shows carbon dioxide over time as a waveform called a capnogram.

Capnogram: A graph of exhaled carbon dioxide concentration over time or against exhaled volume. Its phases and shape are the primary display used to interpret capnography.
Anesthesia: A medically induced state that reduces sensation, awareness, or both during procedures. Continuous capnography helps detect breathing problems during general anesthesia and sedation.
Carbon dioxide: A colorless gas produced by cellular metabolism and removed from the body mainly through the lungs. Capnography measures this gas in exhaled breath.
Mainstream capnography: Capnography that measures gas directly in the breathing circuit near the airway. It is one sampling configuration, suited to rapid breath-by-breath measurement.
Hypoventilation: Breathing that is insufficient to remove carbon dioxide produced by the body. It typically raises exhaled carbon dioxide and may be detected before oxygen levels decline.
Infrared gas analyzer: An instrument that estimates gas concentration by measuring how much infrared radiation the gas absorbs. Most clinical capnographs measure carbon dioxide through its infrared absorption.
Endotracheal intubation: Placement of a tube through the mouth or nose into the trachea. A sustained exhaled-carbon-dioxide waveform helps confirm tracheal tube placement.
Alveolar ventilation: The volume of fresh air reaching gas-exchanging lung regions each minute. It is a major determinant of the carbon dioxide level measured at exhalation.
Sidestream capnography: Capnography that draws a small gas sample through tubing to a remote analyzer. It is the alternative sampling configuration and can be used with many oxygen-delivery systems.
Pulmonary embolism: Obstruction of a pulmonary artery, usually by a blood clot. Reduced lung perfusion can widen the gap between arterial and end-tidal carbon dioxide.

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