Welch Allyn Vital Signs Monitor, Propaq Encore - Quick Reference Guide - Manual (Page 63)

Reference Guide Patient monitoring 57
Capnography (CO
2
)
Intended use
The Propaq’s Capnography (CO
2
) option is intended to noninvasively measure the
following vital signs or events: End-tidal CO
2
(ETCO
2
), Inspired CO
2
(INCO
2
), Breath Rate,
and Apnea.
The CO
2
option is available as mainstream CO
2
, sidestream CO
2
, or Dualstream
CO2
.
Although Dualstream CO
2
provides both mainstream CO
2
and sidestream CO
2
monitoring, only one method can be used at a time. The v option is required for any
Propaq equipped with the CO
2
option.
CO
2
reading accuracy is affected by the presence of interfering gases and vapors. If the
CO
2
option is used on patients who are being administered oxygen (O
2
) or nitrous oxide
(N
2
O), be sure to set the appropriate compensation setting using the GAS COMP button.
Mainstream CO
2
option
The mainstream CO
2
option measures the carbon dioxide content of a patient’s inhaled
and exhaled breath. A mainstream sensor is attached to an airway adapter in series with a
ventilator’s patient breathing circuit.
Patients using mainstream CO
2
must either be intubated or breathing through a well-
fitting face mask connected to a breathing system such as an anesthesia circle system.
WARNING Before you use a Propaq on a new patient, always turn it off for a few
seconds, then turn it on again. This clears the prior patient’s trend values, alarm
limit settings, and NIBP cuff inflation target.
WARNING Avoid exposing a Propaq with the CO
2
option to non-patient sources
of CO
2
such as vehicle engine exhaust or smoke. When such exposure is
possible, avoid opening the printer door. Exposure to these CO
2
sources can
temporarily trap v within the monitor or mainstream v sensor housing, even when
monitor power is off. This can temporarily cause an erroneous elevated CO
2
measurement baseline until the trapped CO
2
leaks out and the baseline returns to
zero (which can require as long as 3-24 hours).
Caution The mainstream CO
2
and sidestream CO
2
options are not
recommended for use during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures.
The magnetic fields involved will permanently damage the CO
2
sensor.
Note CO
2
monitoring outside the specified operating temperature range can cause
inaccurate CO
2
readings. The operating temperature range for the CO
2
option is
different than the range of 0° to 40° C for other Propaq Encore functions:
• Mainstream CO
2
operating temperature: 10° to 40° C
• Sidestream CO
2
operating temperature: 5° to 40° C