Continuous Measurement of Pulmonary Gas Exchange During Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

A system for the continuous measurement of pulmonary gas exchange in artificially ventilated patients must satisfy three major requirements: to give accurate values of oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2) over a long time (at least 24 h); to be easy to use by the physicians in intensive care units, without interfering with routine nursing care or ventilatory management; to be able to reject the artifacted respiratory cycles which are frequently observed in ventilated patients, due to cough efforts or tracheal aspirations by the nursing staff.