What is Capnography?

Capnography is the monitoring of the concentration or partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the respiratory gases. Its primary clinical use is in anesthesia and intensive care for monitoring ventilation. It is usually presented as a graph of exhaled CO2 concentration plotted against time, or, less commonly, against exhaled volume. It provides real-time information about a patient's ventilation, perfusion, and metabolism, as well as information about the respiratory equipment. It's commonly used to confirm endotracheal tube placement, monitor the effectiveness of CPR, and detect respiratory distress.