Accuracy of portable quantitative capnometers and capnographs under prehospital conditions

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine Vol. 21; no. 7; pp. 520 - 524
• Main Authors: Biedler, Andreas E, Wilhelm, Wolfram, Kreuer, Sascha, Soltesz, Stefan, Bach, Friedhelm, Mertzlufft, Friedrich O, Molter, Gerd P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Elsevier Inc 01.11.2003; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Accuracy; Ambient temperature; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Atmospheric pressure; Biological and medical sciences; Bone surgery; capnography; Capnography - instrumentation; Capnometry; Carbon dioxide; Cold; cold ambient temperature; Emergency and intensive care: techniques, logistics; Emergency medical care; emergency medicine; Emergency Treatment - instrumentation; Equipment Design; Expected values; handheld; Humans; Influence; Intensive care medicine; International standards; Investigations; Medical sciences; Monitoring; out-of-hospital; portable; prehospital; Standard deviation; Statistics, Nonparametric; Temperature; Tidal waves; Ventilation; Germany; Capnometry; prehospital; emergency medicine; out-of-hospital; cold ambient temperature; handheld; accuracy; portable; capnography; Human; Intensive care; Carbon dioxide; Temperature effect; Prehospital period; Capnograph; Out of hospital; Portable equipment; Pressure measurement; Measurement accuracy; Technical equipment; Monitoring; Room temperature
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2003.08.005

This study was designed to assess the pCO 2 accuracy of portable mainstream (Tidal Wave, Novametrix; Propaq 106, Protocol) and sidestream capnometers (Capnocheck 8200, BCI; Capnocount mini, Weinmann; NPB-75, Nellcor Puritan Bennett; SC-210, Pryon) with respect to international standards and preclinical emergency conditions. Measurements were performed under temperature conditions of +22°C and −20°C using dry gas mixtures with different CO 2 concentrations (STPD) and in patients ventilated with pure oxygen (BTPS). Accuracy presented to be between +1% (Capnocheck) and +12% (Propaq) (STPD) and between −0.4% (Capnocheck) and +11% (Tidal Wave) (BTPS). The measurements were affected by low ambient temperature only in the NPB-75 (+15%). Our results indicate that portable quantitative capnometers are able to fulfill accuracy requirements as requested by international standards but can be affected by changing ambient temperatures.