End-inspiratory Rebreathing Reduces the End-tidal to Arterial PCO2 Gradient in Mechanically Ventilated Pigs
Jorn Fierstra, Matthew Machina, Anne Battisti-Charbonney, James Duffin, Joseph Arnold Fisher, Leonid Minkovich. Intensive Care Med. 2011 Sep;37(9):1543-50. doi: 10.1007/s00134-011-2260-y. Epub 2011 Jun 7.
Purpose: Noninvasive monitoring of the arterial partial pressures of CO2 (PaCO2) of critically ill patients by measuring their end-tidal partial pressures of CO2 (PETCO2) would be of great clinical value. However, the gradient between PETCO2 and PaCO2 (PET-aCO2) in such patients typically varies over a wide range. A reduction of the PET-aCO2 gradient can be achieved in spontaneously breathing healthy humans using an end-inspiratory rebreathing technique.