Abstract

Maintenance of neonatal normocarbia may prevent chronic lung disease and periventricular leucomalacia, but this requires frequent arterial sampling, which has risks. Alternative methods for measuring CO₂ are therefore desirable. These include end tidal CO₂, capillary sampling, and transcutaneous measurements. CO₂ detectors have also proved effective and rapid indicators of endotracheal intubation. However, this method relies on the presence of exhaled CO₂, which may be reduced in certain situations, such as cardiopulmonary arrest. Colorimetric CO₂ detectors are therefore valuable adjuncts for airway management, especially during resuscitation, but Paco₂ is still the best measure of CO₂ in neonatal practice.