Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department
Published on: January 29, 2011
Dynamics of carbon dioxide elimination following ventilator resetting
1Department of Clinical Physiology, University Hospital of Lund, Sweden.
Background:
Carbon dioxide elimination (VCO2) at steady state corresponds to the metabolic rate. A change in tidal ventilation will lead to a transient response in VCO2 if other determinants of VCO2 are constant. This principle may be applied in the critical care unit to reset ventilators.
Objective:
To define and characterize the transient response of VCO2 to a well-defined change in ventilation.
Methods:
Forty-four patients in stable condition receiving volume-controlled mechanical ventilation had trend recordings of ventilator pressures, flow, volumes, VCO2, and end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) for 20 min. At time t0, the minute ventilation was either increased (n = 22) or decreased (n = 22) by 10% after which these parameters were monitored over 30 min. Blood gas values were measured 5 and 20 min after the change in ventilation and the dead space fractions were computed using the single breath-CO2 test.
Data Analysis:
The first ten breaths (till t1) after a change in ventilation were excluded. The time constant (tau) of the relative change in VCO2 (delta VCO2) was calculated by fitting exponential regressions to delta VCO2 for periods up to 20 min after t1.
Results:
The delta VCO2 at t1 was proportional to the relative change in tidal volume (delta VT). The proportionality decreased gradually during 20 min. The proportionality of the relative change in ETCO2 (delta ETCO2) or PaCO2 (delta PaCO2) with delta VT was minimal at t1 and increased during the 20 min. tau increased progressively when calculated over longer periods (p < 0.001). tau was similar in the groups with increased and decreased ventilation up to 5 min, after which it was longer in the group with decreased ventilation (p < 0.05). The delta PaCO2 after 20 min correlated best with delta VCO2 at t1 (r = -0.8) and with delta ETCO2 at the end of 20 min (r = 0.8).
Conclusions:
Noninvasively monitored VCO2 provides an instantaneous indication of the change in alveolar ventilation in well-sedated, mechanically ventilated patients in stable condition without significant cardiopulmonary disease.
More Related Videos
08:25Combining Volumetric Capnography And Barometric Plethysmography To Measure The Lung Structure-function Relationship
Published on: January 8, 2019
06:22Surfactant Depletion Combined with Injurious Ventilation Results in a Reproducible Model of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Published on: April 7, 2021
Related Concept Videos
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...
01:23Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
01:30Alterations in Respiration II
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
01:22Respiratory Volumes and Capacities
01:18Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are produced, leading to a...
01:30Acute Respiratory Failure-III