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Designed, Produced, and maintained (Edition 13, 2023) by

Bhavani Shankar Kodali MBBS MD FASA

Bhavani Shankar Kodali Capnography

Equipment malfunction

August 4, 2008July 17, 2023 Bhavani Shankar Kodali MD No Comments

Encyclopedia of capnograms

Bhavani Shankar Kodali MD

Equipment malfunction

Sampling leaks Sampling tube leaks, Sampling via oxygen face mask, nasal cannula
Sampling leaks Break in the sampling tube system or loose connections at sampling tube end of the monitor
Sampling leaks -Breakage in the sampling filter Dual plateau capnogram	Details
Slit Sampling tube (tail-up capnogram)	Details
Partial disconnection of main stream sensor (like curare cleft)	Details

Inspiratory valve defects

Inspiratory valve not closing properly resulting in a flip in the plateau at the beginning of inspiration- Note inspiration shown as red.

Details

Inspiratory valve malfunction – valve displaced or totally incompetent- note rebreathing during inspiration as red

Details

Expiratory valve stuck open

Base line is elevated, phase II is prolonged and descending limb of inspiration is prolonged or slanting

Details

Exhausted Soda lime

Gradual rise of base line and height of the waveform

Base line is elevated, but height can remain the same due to hyperventilation

Base line is elevated, there is an inspiratory wave due to rebreathing of Inspiration, the height of the capnogram is gradually increasing.

Inspiration

Details

Contamination of Inspiration sensor

Sudden rise of base line and height of the waveform

Apnea

Ventilator failure, disconnections, accidental extubation

Slow response or side-stream analyzer capnograms in children

zeroing Monitor Some monitors may show flat line during zeroing

Monitor warming up

Dilution of PETInspiration by fresh gas flow

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