Capnography for procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department

Ann Emerg Med. 2007 Aug;50(2):172-81. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.10.016. Epub 2007 Jan 12.

Abstract

Although it is standard of care for patient safety monitoring in anesthesia, capnography is not routinely used for emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia. We discuss the use of capnography as a diagnostic monitoring modality for procedural sedation and analgesia, focusing on the physiology and interpretation of the CO2 waveform and recognition of normal, abnormal, and drug-induced ventilatory patterns.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesia*
  • Capnography*
  • Conscious Sedation*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Humans
  • Respiration*