Sources of error and their correction in the measurement of carbon dioxide elimination using the Siemens-Elema CO2 Analyzer.

The Siemens-Elema CO2 Analyzer 930 allows calculation of carbon dioxide elimination from the instantaneous measurement of expired gas flow (VE) and carbon dioxide fraction (FECO2). VE is measured in the ventilator and FECO2 at the Y-piece. The most important source of error in the measurement of carbon dioxide elimination is rebreathing, which corresponds to about 24 ml of end-expiratory gas per breath with the standard Y-piece and tubing. This problem may be decreased by the use of non-return valves in the Y-piece. Allowance must be made for the effects of intermolecular interaction between carbon dioxide and the carrier gas, as the reading is about 20% greater with nitrous oxide than with oxygen. This problem can be largely circumvented by calibration with appropriate gas mixtures. Errors resulting from analyser delay are small, and are eliminated completely by the inclusion of fast electronic components. Carbon dioxide analysis is linear with air as carrier gas, but slightly alinear with nitrous oxide in oxygen mixtures. This error can be minimized by using calibration gases with a carbon dioxide content close to that of expired gas. The expiratory flow meter is linear if kept in good condition. Variations in temperature and water content of expired gas cause overestimation of mean expired carbon dioxide fraction (FECO2) by a factor of 1.01-1.02. Compressed gas in the tubing causes a small error which may be neglected at normal airway pressures with tubing of low compliance. Carbon dioxide measurement is slightly affected by barometric pressure. During mechanical ventilation of the lungs in 10 patients with air, FECO2 obtained after corrections for known errors agreed well with Scholander analysis of mixed expired gas.