Background and objectives: End-tidal carbon dioxide (P ET CO2) not only reflects pulmonary ventilation but also carbon dioxide production (metabolism) and pulmonary blood supply (circulation). During constant metabolism and ventilation, P ET CO2 reflects pulmonary blood perfusion, thus cardiac output (CO). This study aimed at evaluating the correlation between P ET CO2 levels and CO during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
Methods: Participated in this study 25 patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with CPB. End-tidal CO2 monitoring started after tracheal intubation. Cardiac output was determined by thermodilution with pulmonary artery catheter (Swan-Ganz). Carbon dioxide partial blood pressure (PaCO2) was obtained with arterial blood gases analysis. Studied parameters were evaluated in the following moments: immediately after general anesthesia induction, before cardiopulmonary bypass, at cardiopulmonary bypass completion and at surgery completion.
Results: Statistical analysis has not shown correlation between P ET CO2 and CO2, or between P ET CO2-PaCO2 gradient (Ga-eCO2) and CO. There has been correlation between P ET CO2, Ga-eCO2 and CO values variation as compared to baseline values before CPB, with loss of correlation after CPB until surgery completion.
Conclusions: In this study, where patients submitted to cardiac surgery with CPB were evaluated, ventilation/perfusion changes throughout the procedure might have been the factors determining decreased correlation between cardiac output and end tidal CO2.