Physics of capnography

Bhavani Shankar Kodali MD

Microstream Technology

Advantages

Side stream capnometers using low aspiration flow rates (50ml.min-1)
Minimizes dispersion of gases in the sampling tubes
Less likely to aspirate condensed water and secretions thereby minimizing chances of occlusion
Despite low flows, the response time is preserved by using highly CO₂-specific infrared source and maintaining laminar gas flow throughout the breathing circuit
PETCO₂ values obtained with this monitor accurately predicted PaCO₂ values in adults
Studies in newborns also showed that Microstream technology accurately measured alveolar CO₂ in newborns without pulmonary disease, as demonstrated by normal PetCO₂ -PaCO₂ gradients .

Traditional high flow side-stream capnometers (150 ml.min-1) result in erroneous PETCO₂ measurements and distorted waveforms in neonates and infants with small tidal volumes and high respiratory rates. In addition, high flow capnometers also likely to aspirate water and secretions into the sampling tubes resulting either erroneous PETCO₂ values or in total occlusion of sampling tube. To obviate these disadvantages, recently, Microstream capnometers such as NBP-75®, Nellcor Puritan Bennett, Plesanton, CA,USA), and Oridion Capnostream 20 with an aspiration flow rate of 50 ml.min-1, have been developed. It uses a highly CO₂-specific infrared source where the IR emission exactly matches the absorption spectrum of the CO₂ molecules. This facilitates the sample cell to utilize a much smaller volume (15 µml) that permits a low flow rate without compromising response rate or accuracy. Low aspiration flow rates also minimize dispersion of gases in the sampling tube and prevent mixing of the small inspiratory and expiratory volumes observed in newborns. Rapid response time is preserved by laminar gas flow throughout the breathing circuit

End-tidal PCO₂ values obtained by this monitor provided a sufficiently accurate estimation of PaCO₂ in intubated mechanically ventilated as well non-intubated, spontaneously breathing adults.1,2 Studies have also shown that microstream technology is superior in neonates and children.3,4 Hagerty et al4 evaluated the accuracy of a new low-flow sidestream capnography technology and analyzed components of the capnograms in mechanically ventilated newborns with and without pulmonary disease. Twenty patients were prospectively identified. Eligible infants were mechanically ventilated and had an indwelling arterial catheter. Two groups were identified: newborns who received mechanical ventilation for pulmonary diseases, and newborns who received postoperative mechanical ventilation for nonpulmonary conditions. Respiratory gas sampling was performed using low flow (50 mL/min), sidestream, hand held device, Microcap by Oridion Medical Inc, which utilized MicrostreamTM sampling technology. End-tidal CO₂ (PetCO₂) was measured for 1-minute pre- and post-arterial blood sampling, and PetCO₂ and PaCO₂ were compared for each patient. Eight quantitative waveform parameters were also measured on all patients. Newborns in the pulmonary group (n=13) (persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn/meconium aspiration syndrome, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia) and newborns in the control group (n=7) were matched for birth weight, gestational age, and postnatal age. PetCO₂-PaCO₂ gradient values were higher in the pulmonary group (7.4+/-3.3 mm Hg) than controls (3.4+/-2.4 mm Hg). Four waveform parameters (ascending slope, alveolar angle, alpha angle, descending angle) were identified, which independently differentiated patients with pulmonary disease from controls. Low-flow capnography with Microstream technology accurately measured alveolar CO₂ in newborns without pulmonary disease, as demonstrated by normal PetCO₂-PaCO₂ gradients. The measured PetCO₂ -PaCO₂ gradient, as expected, was significantly higher in newborns with pulmonary disease. The authors also identified four quantitative waveform parameters that may be useful in differentiating between mechanically ventilated newborn patients with and without lung disease.
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Reference:

1. Casti A, Gallioli G, Scandroglio M, Passaretta R, Borghi B, Torri G. Accuracy of end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring using the NBP-75 microstream capnometer. A study in intubated ventilated and spontaneously breathing nonintubated patients. European J Anesthesiology 2000;17:622-626.

2. Casti A, Gallioli G, Passaretta R, Scandroglio M, Bignami E, Torri G. End tidal carbon dioxide monitoring in spontaneously breathing nonintubated patients. A clinical comparison between conventional sidestream and microstream capnometers. Minerva Anestesiol 2001;67(4):161-4.

3. Sing S, Venkataraman ST, Saville A, Bhende MS. NPB-75: A portable quantitative microstream capnometer. Am J Emerg Med 2001;19(3):208-10.

4. Hagerty JJ, Kleinman ME, Zurakowski D, Lyons AC, Krauss B. Accuracy of new low-flow sidestream capnography technology in newborns: a pilot study. J Perinatol 2002;22(3):219-25.

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