Changes in End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide and Volumetric Carbon Dioxide as Predictors of Volume Responsiveness in Hemodynamically Unstable Patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in PETCO2 and exhaled CO2 (VCO2) can predict fluid responsiveness after a preload challenge. A retrospective review of prospectively recorded data. A medical intensive care unit of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital. Mechanically ventilated patients undergoing a preload challenge. In the authors' intensive care unit, fluid responsiveness is determined by a passive leg raising (PLR) maneuver and/or a 500-mL crystalloid challenge. An increase in the stroke volume index >10% as measured by a NICOM bioreactance cardiac output monitor (Cheetah Medical, Inc, Vancouver, WA) is used to determine fluid responsiveness. PETCO2 and volumetric capnography (VCO2) were monitored via a combined CO2 and flow sensor capnostat (Respironics NM3 Monitor; Philips Healthcare, Eindhoven, Netherlands). Patients were mechanically ventilated with tidal volumes controlled at 8 mL/kg, allowing for consistent minute ventilation. During the study period, 44 challenges (10 PLR and 34 fluid boluses) were performed on 34 patients. There were 24 (54%) positive "fluid" responses. PETCO2 increased by 5.9% ± 7.6% in the responders compared with 1.4% ± 4.4% in the nonresponders (p = 0.02). Similarly, VCO2 increased by 11.0% ± 8.6% in the responders compared with 0.8% ± 5.6% in the nonresponders (p = 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.80) for PETCO2 and 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.89) for VCO2. PETCO2 and VCO2 were predictive of fluid responsiveness only in those patients without underlying lung disease. The stroke volume variation was 15.8 ± 3.7 in the responders compared with 13.6 ± 4.8 in the nonresponders (p = 0.15). Dynamic changes in PETCO2 and VCO2 may be used as adjunctive indicators of fluid responsiveness in patients without underlying lung disease.