BACKGROUND: End-tidal carbon dioxide (Petco2) concentration is a marker of the pathophysiologic state because it is a reflection of cardiac output. Petco2 correlates with outcome after prehospital primary cardiac arrest, but association with outcome from prehospital trauma has not been established. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2001, Petco2 was recorded in 191 blunt trauma patients requiring prehospital intubation. Rapid sequence intubation was performed using suxamethonium (1 mg/kg) and etomidate (0.2-0.3 mg/kg). Initial Petco2 after endotracheal intubation (t0) and Petco2 at 20 minutes after endotracheal intubation (t20) were recorded, together with survival to discharge. RESULTS: Median Petco2 at t20 was 4.10 kPa in survivors and 3.50 kPa in nonsurvivors (95% confidence interval of difference between medians, 0.40 to 0.90 kPa; p < 0.0001). Petco2 at t20 was a better predictor of outcome than at t0. CONCLUSION: Only 5% patients with Petco2 < 3.25 kPa survived to discharge. Petco2 at t20 is of value in predicting outcome from major trauma.
BACKGROUND: End-tidal carbon dioxide (Petco2) concentration is a marker of the pathophysiologic state because it is a reflection of cardiac output. Petco2 correlates with outcome after prehospital primary cardiac arrest, but association with outcome from prehospital trauma has not been established. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2001, Petco2 was recorded in 191 blunt traumapatients requiring prehospital intubation. Rapid sequence intubation was performed using suxamethonium (1 mg/kg) and etomidate (0.2-0.3 mg/kg). Initial Petco2 after endotracheal intubation (t0) and Petco2 at 20 minutes after endotracheal intubation (t20) were recorded, together with survival to discharge. RESULTS: Median Petco2 at t20 was 4.10 kPa in survivors and 3.50 kPa in nonsurvivors (95% confidence interval of difference between medians, 0.40 to 0.90 kPa; p < 0.0001). Petco2 at t20 was a better predictor of outcome than at t0. CONCLUSION: Only 5% patients with Petco2 < 3.25 kPa survived to discharge. Petco2 at t20 is of value in predicting outcome from major trauma.
Authors: Daniel C McGillicuddy; Aimee Tang; Lauren Cataldo; Julia Gusev; Nathan I Shapiro Journal: Intern Emerg Med Date: 2008-04-17 Impact factor: 3.397
Authors: Christopher L Hunter; Salvatore Silvestri; George Ralls; Amanda Stone; Ayanna Walker; Neal Mangalat; Linda Papa Journal: West J Emerg Med Date: 2018-03-13