I understand you hate puncture for blood gases. I´ve never received that
kind of puncture (venous puncture is not so painful)...and let me touch
wood :-). Capnometry is noninvasive so no pain at all. It can be reliable
in case the main problem is primarly hypoventilation but still the "gold
standar" are blood gases, at least for levels of CO2. Well, I think that in
relatively stable situation capnometry can be a good aid, avoiding arterial
puncture (and people at the other side like physicians must think that pain
is something very important to avoid). And as Joanne mentioned there are
now very atractive devices (I know one from Nellcor/Purittan Bennett). I´m
sure we´ll see a great progress in the next years in this questions. In
fact pulsioximetry has represented a big advanced.
Dr. J.M. Quiroga
----------
> De: CKSwedberg(AT)aol.com
> A: vent-users(AT)eskimo.com
> Asunto: Re: Pulse Oximetry
> Fecha: miércoles 22 de octubre de 1997 11:00
>
> Joanne wrote:
>
> >Capnometers
> >do need to be calibrated prior to each use.
>
> I read your post with interest, Joanne. I am unfamiliar with the
capnometer.
> Could you explain what it is? I take it that it has something to do with
> measuring the amt of CO2 in your daughter's system. I was surprised to
hear
> that it was more reliable than blood gases. I hate having gases done! Is
the
> capnometer non-invasive? How does it work? Thanks a lot.
>
> Carol
>