[Volumetric capnography for analysis and optimization of ventilation and gas exchange]

Capnography as the graphical representation of the expiratory carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, is an essential component of monitoring of every ventilated patient, in addition to pulse oximetry. Capnography demonstrates the kinetics of CO₂ in a noninvasive way and in real time. In the daily routine anesthesia, it mainly serves for identification of the correct intubation and adaptation of the respiratory minute volume to be applied; however, capnography can also provide much more far-reaching and clinically particularly valuable information, especially in the form of volumetric capnography (V_Cap) that is not yet so widely clinically available. These include monitoring and optimization of ventilation and assessment of gas exchange. This article presents parameters for making decisions at the bedside, which could previously only be obtained by extensive, more invasive, nonautomated procedures.