The Difference between End-tidal and Arterial PCO2 in Anesthetized Patients .

Ham,  Byung Moon

doi:1988.21.1.205

Clinical Research Article

Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 1988;21(1):205-208.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1988.21.1.205

The Difference between End-tidal and Arterial PCO2 in Anesthetized Patients .

Byung Moon Ham

Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The relationship between end-tidal carbon dioxide tension(PECO2) as measured by infrared analysis(Datascope Accucap, U.S.A.) and arterial carbon dioxide tension(PaCO2) during general anesthesia was systemically examined in fifty relatively healthy patients(ASA class 1). Body temperature was measured to determine the variation in PaCO2 minus PECO2. The results were as follows: 1) The mean PEzCO2 was 26.2+/-0.7 torr. 2) The mean PaCO2 was 31.6+/-0.8 torr. 3) The average of PaCO2 minus PECO2 was 5.1+/-0.6 torr. 4) PaCO2 was directly related to PECO2. An equation was obtained by simple regression analysis to predict PaCO2. PaCO2=0.899. PECO2+7.57(r=0.715; p<0.01). 5) Body temperature (between 34.3 degrees C and 37.9 degrees C) was not related to PaCO2 minus PECO2 (r=0.1). I thought that measurement of PECO2 is very simple and a guideline of ventilation of the patients in anesthesis and ICU.

Key Words: PeCO2 : end-tidal carbon dioxide tension; PaCO2 : arterial carbon dioxide tension; ICU : intensive care unit