Abstract

Capnography is a simple non-invasive monitoring technique that provides prompt and valuable information about patient’s ventilation, perfusion and metabolism. We are presenting a case of a 10 year-old boy with a history of repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) undergoing a cardiac catheterization for recurrent left pulmonary artery (LPA) stenosis. A variable plateau capnogram waverform was detected and attributed to ventilation-perfusion abnormalities from differential lung perfusion secondary to critical LPA stenosis. Capnogram can prove vital monitoring tool in detecting critical perfusion abnormalities.

Keywords: Capnogram; Pulmonary artery stenosis; Ventilation-perfusion mismatch

Abbreviations: TOF: Tetralogy of Fallot; LPA: Left Pulmonary Artery; PAS: Pulmonary Artery Stenosis; EtCO2: End tidal Carbon Dioxide; CO2: Carbon Dioxide; ETT: Endotracheal Tube; PEEP: Positive End Expiratory Pressure; V/Q: Ventilation Perfusion