capnography
Pronunciation: kap-NOG-rah-fee
Continuous monitoring of exhaled carbon dioxide concentration, mandatory in pediatric anesthesia for early detection of airway problems and confirmation of proper ventilation.
Full Definition
Capnography is the continuous measurement and graphical display of carbon dioxide concentration in exhaled breath throughout the respiratory cycle. In pediatric anesthesia, capnography serves multiple critical functions: confirming correct endotracheal tube placement, monitoring ventilation adequacy, detecting airway obstruction, and providing early warning of respiratory depression. The capnogram waveform can reveal important information about airway patency, breathing patterns, and equipment malfunctions. In children, capnography is particularly valuable due to their higher oxygen consumption and more rapid development of hypoxemia when ventilation is compromised.
Usage
Usage note: Related terms include 'capnogram' (the waveform) and 'capnometer' (the device). ETCO2 stands for end-tidal CO2.
In Context
- "Capnography immediately confirmed correct endotracheal tube placement with a normal waveform and ETCO2 of 35 mmHg." — Anesthesia record
- "The sudden loss of capnography waveform alerted the team to airway disconnection during patient positioning." — Incident report