CO2 production and breathing pattern during invasive and non-invasive respiratory monitoring

A computerized non-invasive strain gauge system for respiratory monitoring is described and compared with pneumotachography. With the use of simultaneous capnography, changes in breathing pattern, end-tidal PCO2 and CO2 production were evaluated during non-invasive (NIM) and invasive breathing monitoring (IM) in 14 healthy subjects. An overall absolute difference between measured and calculated tidal volumes of 4.6 +/- 3.47% (r = 0.97) was found. When switching from NIM to IM, tidal volume increased by 19% and breathing frequency decreased by 11% with a 10% increase in minute ventilation. These changes were mainly accomplished by an increased respiratory drive with the timing component unaltered. During IM both end-tidal PCO2 and CO2 production increased significantly as compared with those during NIM.