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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
07:52
Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department
Published on: January 29, 2011
End-tidal carbon dioxide and resuscitation.
Y Morimoto1, O Kemmotsu, Y Morimoto
1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. morim2@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
|October 3, 2006
Summary
End-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring during cardiopulmonary resuscitation indicates circulation return and chest compression effectiveness. However, low values do not predict prognosis, so resuscitation should not be stopped solely based on this metric.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
- Physiology
Background:
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) effectiveness is crucial for patient survival.
- Monitoring physiological parameters during CPR can guide resuscitation efforts.
- End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is a non-invasive measure reflecting metabolic activity and perfusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the utility and limitations of end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring during CPR.
- To evaluate ETCO2 as an indicator for return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
- To assess ETCO2's role in gauging the efficacy of chest compressions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on ETCO2 in CPR.
- Analysis of studies correlating ETCO2 values with CPR outcomes.
- Evaluation of ETCO2 trends during resuscitation events.
Main Results:
- End-tidal carbon dioxide effectively indicates the return of spontaneous circulation.
- ETCO2 levels correlate with the effectiveness of chest compressions during CPR.
- A low ETCO2 value alone is insufficient for predicting CPR prognosis.
Conclusions:
- End-tidal carbon dioxide is a valuable tool for real-time assessment during CPR.
- CPR should not be discontinued based solely on low ETCO2 readings.
- ETCO2 monitoring enhances, but does not replace, clinical judgment in CPR.
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