What Researchers Did
The researchers compared a new capnograph device, EMMA, with a standard capnograph and blood gas tests to see how well it measured carbon dioxide levels in a hyperbaric chamber.
What They Found
The EMMA capnograph showed a very slight over-estimation of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) compared to sidestream capnography, with a difference of about 0.1 kPa, but overall good agreement. When compared to arterial blood gas pressure, the EMMA capnograph had a non-significant difference of about 0.3 kPa, and the sidestream capnograph had a non-significant difference of about 0.4 kPa. Both capnography methods provided clinically acceptable estimates of arterial carbon dioxide pressure in the hyperbaric environment at 284 kPa.
Canadian Relevance
This study includes Canadian authors, indicating direct Canadian involvement in the research. While capnography itself is a monitoring tool and not an HBOT indication, accurate monitoring is vital for patients undergoing HBOT for Health Canada-recognized conditions like decompression sickness or carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if they require ventilation.
Study Limitations
The study was conducted with a small number of resting subjects (12 for capnography, 5 for blood gas) and did not assess the devices during active patient care or across a wider range of hyperbaric pressures.