Capnography, the monitoring of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, is a vital tool in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for assessing and managing patients with respiratory and cardiac conditions. The primary measurement provided by capnography is the end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), which reflects the efficiency of ventilation, circulation, and metabolism. This lecture will explore the principles of capnography, its clinical applications, and its significance in EMS settings.
 
Capnography provides real-time, continuous information that can assist in the early detection of respiratory distress, effectiveness of ventilation, and proper placement of advanced airway devices. Additionally, ETCO2 monitoring offers crucial insight into cardiac arrest resuscitation efforts and can guide therapeutic interventions, including ventilator adjustments during mechanical ventilation or advanced airway management.
 
This lecture will also cover the interpretation of capnography waveforms and the significance of various waveform patterns, such as normal, hypercarbia, hypoventilation, and sudden loss of waveform, indicating critical clinical changes. Emphasis will be placed on the utility of capnography in clinical decision-making, patient monitoring during transport, and its role in enhancing patient outcomes in pre-hospital care.
 
By understanding the practical applications and limitations of capnography, EMS providers can improve patient care, reduce mortality, and optimize resource utilization during transport and on-scene care.
 
Objectives

• The student will understand A & P of the heart and respiratory systems.
• The student will understand diagnostic wave forms and their meaning in the field.
• The student will understand how to integrate capnography into their everyday assessments.
• The student will understand how capnography is the ultimate tool in advanced airway maintenance.

This EMS World webinar is accredited by CAPCE for 1 hour of continuing education credit upon successful completion of a post-test. Attendees will be provided instructions on how to claim CE credit for attending.