Transcutaneous paCO2 Monitoring
From Guide to YKHC Medical Practices
Transcutaneous CO2 (TC-CO2) monitors function by measuring the CO2 which diffuses out the skin. Modern TC-CO2 monitors are highly accurate for measuring paCO2.[1]
Important Points
- Initial reading requires approximately five minutes to establish.
- TC-CO2 measures paCO2 trends; it DOES NOT measure instantaneous levels. Therefore, TC-CO2 is NOT an acceptable substitute for ET-CO2 in these situations:
- Confirmation of ET-tube placement.
- Respiratory monitoring during sedation.
- Any situation where apnea is a concern.
REFERENCES
- ↑ Nassar BS, Schmidt GA. Estimating Arterial Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide in Ventilated Patients: How Valid Are Surrogate Measures? Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2017 Jun;14(6):1005-1014. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201701-034FR. PMID: 28570147.
