Superiority of transcutaneous CO2 over end-tidal CO2 measurement for monitoring respiratory failure in nonintubated patients: A pilot study

摘要

Purpose: Arterial blood gas measurement is frequently performed in critically ill patients to diagnose and monitor acute respiratory failure. At a given metabolic rate, carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCo2) is entirely determined by CO2 elimination through ventilation. Transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PtcCO(2)) monitoring permits a noninvasive and continuous estimation of arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2). The accuracy of PtcCO(2), however, has not been well studied.