On the Streets #9: Advanced Applications of Capnography

<div class="page" title="Page 34"> <div class="section"> <div class="layoutArea"> <div class="column"> <p class="p1">Capnography is the measurement of the partial pressure of exhaled CO₂ and is an indirect measurement of your cellular respiration. It is displayed visually as a block-like waveform during the exhalation phase of respiration and monitors ventilation in real-time. Capnography is the gold standard for monitoring sedated and intubated patients in the hospital and the field and can be used in many other situations to discern more information about your patient.</p> <p class="p1">Our host Jordan Ourada is joined by Dr. Eric Hill who is a board certified Emergency Physician, EMS Director for 9 agencies around Colorado, a retired military physician with the Army, former paramedic firefighter and combat veteran to discuss advanced applications of capnography to monitor a range of different patients in the pre-hospital setting. Tune in to learn how to apply capnography to monitor your patients and detect serious conditions like sepsis and DKA and initiate time-sensitive interventions that reduce mortality in patients.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>Quick Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <ol class="ol1"> <li class="li1">Normal range is between 35 - 45 mmHg</li> <li class="li1">Low capnography indicates they are blowing off CO₂</li> <li class="li1">High capnography indicates they are retaining CO₂</li> <li class="li1">Normal waveform morphology is box-like with gradual expiratory plateau after expiratory upstroke</li> <li class="li1">Monitor your patient’s status and interpret the capnography numbers, rate and waveforms accordingly</li> </ol> <p class="p1"><span style= "text-decoration: underline;"><span class="s1">Time Stamps</span></span></p> <p class="p1">1:32 Capnography definition</p> <p class="p1">6:36 Normal range</p> <p class="p1">7:40 Reading capnography waveforms</p> <p class="p1">12:36 Capnography monitoring in sedated/intubated patients</p> <p class="p1">13:36 Intubation