Skip to Content 
Measuring and regulating the child’s carbon dioxide level is critical to ensuring the brain is getting enough blood oxygen to prevent a secondary brain injury.
High carbon dioxide can increase intracranial pressure, while a low level is associated with poor brain circulation.
The Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) published the third edition of medical management guidelines for severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) earlier this year.
The 3rd ed. guidelines do not, however, include a recommendation either for or against the use of the noninvasive method (measuring carbon dioxide from patients’ exhalations, known as end-tidal capnography) is as effective as drawing blood through a child’s artery.
In a study published Aug. 16 in JAMA, researchers answered that clinical question:
Study published in JAMA finds measuring carbon dioxide lines through the artery more effective than noninvasive method.
Posted by: Brain injury lawyer Cullotta located in Glenview & Chicago, Illinois.