Background: The current study prospectively compares the accuracy of the intraoperative use of transcutaneous (Tc) and endtidal (PE) CO2 monitoring during surgical procedures in 30 paediatric patients, ranging in age from 6 months to 15 years (6.15 +/- 4.35 years) and in weight from 4.7 to 73 kg (24.9 +/- 18.2 kg).
Methods: Following calibration and an equilibration time for the TcCO2 monitor, arterial blood gas samples were obtained as clinically indicated. A total of 64 sample sets (PaCO2, PECO2 and TcCO2) were obtained from the 30 patients.
Results: The PECO2 to PaCO2 difference was 0.6-0.9 kPa (4.4 +/- 7.1 mmHg) while the TcCO2 to PaCO2 difference was 0.36-0.38 kPa (2.8 +/- 2.9 mmHg) (P=NS). The difference between the PaCO2 and PECO2 was 0.4 kPa (3 mmHg) or less in 37 of 64 sample sets while the difference between the PaCO2 and TcCO2 was 0.4 kPa (3 mmHg) or less in 49 of 64 sample sets (P=0.038). Linear regression analysis of PECO2 vs. PaCO2 revealed a slope of 0.434, r=0.8761, r2=0.7676. Linear regression analysis of TcCO2 vs. PaCO2 revealed a slope of 0.914, r=0.9472, r2=0.8972.
Conclusions: Although in most circumstances, both noninvasive monitors of PCO2 provided a clinically acceptable estimate of PaCO2, TCCO2 provided a slightly more accurate estimate of PaCO2 during intraoperative anaesthetic care in children.