Carbon dioxide measurement in neuroanesthesia
Pelagalli, F.M.; Piccini, M.
Minerva Anestesiologica 59(11): 671-673
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0375-9393 PMID: 8170614 Document Number: 421369
The study examined the arterial PCO2 minus end tidal PCO2 gradient during neuroanaesthesia. Ten patients with supratentorial tumours undergoing neurosurgical operations were included in the study. All patients were monitored continuously: ECG, intraarterial pressure, CVP, temperature, expired FtCO2 (Gas analyzer 93O-Siemens); arterial PCO2 was measured intermittently. The APCO2-EtPCO2 gradient was very variable in all patients (0.6-8.3 mmHg) not related to significant changes of ventilation, mean arterial pressure, CVP or body temperature. Our results suggest a critical review of EtCO2 monitoring for providing early warning of critical events during anaesthesia.