The effect of surgical masks on vital signs and EtCO2 in patients on oxygen therapy

Abstract

Background: There are conflicting data on the effects of masks on vital signs and end-tidal CO₂ (EtCO₂) values in the literature.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the changes in the vital parameters and EtCO₂ values of the patients who were administered oxygen through nasal cannula (NC) and simple oxygen mask (SOM) and wore surgical masks (SM) on top during their treatment.

Methods: The prospective, observational study was conducted from January 2021, over consecutive 30 days, in the emergency department of a tertiary-care university hospital. The vital signs and EtCO₂ values of the subjects administered O₂ were noted at the time of arrival and at the 30th and 120th minutes of treatment. Changes in vital signs and EtCO₂ values were compared with regard to NC-SM and SOM-SM applications over a 120-min study period.

Results: Sixty-eight subjects were included in two groups (NC-SM [n = 49] and SOM-SM [n = 19]). At the 120th minute, a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate and an increase in oxygen saturation were observed in the group including all subjects. After decreasing slightly in the first 30 min, the EtCO₂ value remained stable.

Conclusions: NC-SM and SOM-SM applications do not affect adversely, and even seem to lead to recovery of, the vital signs and EtCO₂ values during 120 min in subjects with acute complaints.

Keywords: End-tidal carbon dioxide; Nasal cannula; Simple oxygen mask; Surgical mask; Vital signs.