3 2 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E J U LY 2 0 1 7
C
apnography identifies potential respiratory events well before
you have the sneaking suspicion that something seems amiss.
Without the monitoring modality, critical minutes may pass
before you notice the patient is experiencing hypoventilation,
airway obstruction or obstructive sleep apnea that could lead
to respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, hypoxic brain injury and even death.
Nothing beats the close observation of expert nurses and anesthesia providers,
but even your most attentive caregivers would benefit from being backed up by
capnography.
Monitoring of end tidal CO
2
is an essential patient safety practice your
facility shouldn't be without. Peggy Lange, BA, RRT | St. Cloud, Minn.
The Case for
Capnography
• BIG PICTURE Continuous
capnography offers a complete
analysis of a patient's ventilation,
perfusion and metabolism.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
