Y. Eyler, TY. Kilic and H. Idil (2020). Nasal Capnography Monitoring of a Patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Prehospital and disaster medicine, 35(2), 229-230. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X20000187

PubMed 32036812

[Abstract]
BACKGROUND: End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) is a non-invasive method giving information about the perfusion, ventilation, and metabolic condition of patients. The correlation was studied here between the metabolic (pH, bicarbonate) values and EtCO2 during the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old male patient with diabetes mellitus was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with the complaints of nausea, vomiting, and fever. The patient with a diagnosis of DKA was continuously monitored with EtCO2; EtCO2 was correlated with serum bicarbonate (HCO3; r = 0.96; P < .001) and pH (r = 0.93; P < .001).

CONCLUSION: Continuous EtCO2 monitoring should be considered by emergency physicians in the metabolic monitoring of the patients as it is an easy-to-use, non-invasive, and cost-effective method that provides instant and reliable information.