Solved:
Answered by AI, Verified by Human Experts
Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of your team inserts an endotracheal tube while another performs chest compressions. Capnography shows a persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding?
Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of your team inserts an endotracheal tube while another performs chest compressions. Capnography shows a persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? a) Effective chest compressions
b) Inadequate chest compressions
c) Successful intubation
d) Ventilation-perfusion mismatch
Final answer:A persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg during CPR with an endotracheal tube in place is indicative of inadequate chest compressions.Explanation:The significance of the finding of a persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg during a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, which occurs three minutes after the endotracheal tube insertion and while chest compressions are performed, is indicative of inadequate chest compressions. Normal venous PCO2 is about 40 mm Hg in the pulmonary veins. A PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg is significantly lower than the normal range, which suggests a low level of carbon dioxide is being expelled from the lungs due to insufficient chest compressions. Hence the blood is not being adequately circulated through the lungs to remove carbon dioxide and replenish oxygen, which is a main goal ofCPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Effective CPR should maintain sufficient pulmonary blood flow to ensure adequate gas exchange, allowing PETCO2 levels to approximate venous PCO2 levels, assuming proper ventilation is achieved....