A. Description: ABC: airway, breathing and circulation. Three separate concepts, but there is one clinical tool that we can use to evaluate all three, and that is capnography. Capnography provides an objective measurement for evaluating the ventilatory status of patients with respiratory disease, distress or complications, as well as patients with compromised airways or circulatory deficits.

B. Objectives: At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
1) Describe key components of End-tidal Carbon Dioxide (EtCO₂) monitoring.
2) Identify specific situations in which capnography should be used.
3) Interpret basic capnographic waveforms and changes.

C. Content Synopsis: This session will begin by defining EtCO₂, reviewing the basic mechanisms of respiratory system, and developing an understanding of the difference between oxygenation and ventilation. We will examine the differences between static measurements (colorimetric) and dynamic measurements such as capnometry and capnography. We will look at what factors can impact EtCO₂, and discuss the importance of monitoring EtCO₂, both in numbers and waveforms. We will explore how these findings help provide objective confirmation of our clinical assessments and judgments in a variety of patients and examine the implications of both normal and abnormal findings. We will identify conditions that contribute to abnormal findings as well as conditions that may cause changes in the capnographic readings.

D. Outline:
1) Definitions
    a) End-tidal Carbon Dioxide (EtCO₂)
    b) Oxygenation
    c) Ventilation
2) Measuring EtCO₂
    a) Colorimetric
    b) Capnometry
    c) Capnography
3) Factors influencing Capnography
    a) Airway
    b) Breathing
    c) Circulation
4) Applications - Objective confirmation of clinical assessment and judgment
    a) Intubation
    b) Assessing severity of asthma and effectiveness of treatment
    c) Code situations (CPR effectiveness, ROSC, termination of efforts)
    d) Hypoventilatory states (drugs, alcohol, seizures, trauma, etc)
    e) Others
5) Case Studies
6) Questions / Answers

E. Participant Limit:  None.

F. Teaching method: Lecture/discussion with audience participation.

G. Audio Visual Equipment Requirements: LCD projector for a PowerPoint presentation.