Background and Identification
Capnography is a method of monitoring the amount of carbon dioxide in a patient’s exhalation over a specific period of time. A capnograph emits infrared light through the a gas sample to determine how much light was absorbed by the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide levels are then modified to account for the levels of nitrous oxide in the gas sample. The results determine how much carbon dioxide is contained in the end of a patient’s exhalation. This is referred to as End Tidal CO2.