Continuous transcutaneous carbon-dioxide monitoring to avoid hypercapnia in complex catheter ablations under conscious sedation

BackgroundAblation of complex cardiac arrhythmias requires an immobilized patient. For a successful and safe intervention for patient comfort, this can be achieved by conscious sedation. Administered sedatives analgesics have respiratory depressant side effects require close monitoring. We investigated the feasibility accuracy additional, continuous transcutaneous carbon-dioxide partial pressure (tpCO2) measurement during sedation in electrophysiological catheter ablation procedures.MethodWe evaluated additional value tpCO2 detection application Severinghaus electrode comparison to arterial venous blood gas analyses.ResultsWe included 110 patients prospective observational study. Arterial pCO2 (paCO2) showed good correlation throughout procedures (r = 0.60–0.87, p < 0.005). Venous (pvCO2) were also well correlated values 0.65–0.85, 0.0001). Analyses difference pvCO2 measurements tolerance within <10 mmHg up 96–98% patients. Hypercapnia (pCO2 70 mmHg) was detected more likely earlier monitoring compared half-hourly measurements.ConclusionContinuous is feasible precise with analysis ablations under may contribute safety.