title: A carbon dioxide monitor that does not show the waveform is worthless.
abstract: The author suggests that the carbon dioxide waveform should be displayed, as are the electrocardiogram and arterial pressure waveforms. He argues that a carbon dioxide analyzer that does not provide a waveform is not of value, as subtle changes in the carbon dioxide waveform can reflect impending problems. Only when a plateau is present in the capnogram can one be certain that end-tidal gas is being measured, and the author asserts that the presence or absence of this plateau can be detected only by visually inspecting the waveform.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Block
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D003626:Data Display; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide