What is the potential role of transcutaneous carbon dioxide in guiding acute noninvasive ventilation?

Background: Transcutaneous carbon dioxide (PtcCO2 ) monitoring is rarely used in the acute hospital setting, where serial samples of arterial blood are instead taken to measure carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2 ). In this pilot observational study, we assessed the potential of PtcCO2 monitoring to calculate pH and guide management of acute noninvasive ventilation (NIV).

Methods: Ten subjects with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure were recruited.