Certified Respiratory Therapist Practice Exam

For continuous ventilation monitoring, which method can be applied in adults according to recent research?

1. End-Tidal CO2 Monitoring

2. Transcutaneous PCO2 Analysis

3. Capillary Blood Gas Measurement

4. Arterial Blood Gas Analysis

The correct answer is: Transcutaneous PCO2 Analysis

Transcutaneous PCO2 analysis is a valuable method for continuous ventilation monitoring in adults because it provides real-time, non-invasive measurements of carbon dioxide levels across the skin. This technique uses sensors that are placed on the skin, which can continuously assess and track the local tissue CO2 levels, reflecting the changes in arterial blood CO2 levels. This method is particularly beneficial in various clinical settings where ongoing assessment of ventilation status is crucial, such as during critical care or anesthesia. It allows for timely adjustments in therapeutic interventions, enhancing patient safety and care quality. In contrast, other methods have limitations. For instance, end-tidal CO2 monitoring primarily measures the CO2 concentration in exhaled breath, which can provide useful information but may not accurately reflect the blood gas status under certain conditions. Capillary blood gas measurement involves obtaining blood from capillaries, which can be less reliable than arterial measurements and is not truly continuous. Arterial blood gas analysis, while traditionally the gold standard for assessing oxygenation and ventilation, requires invasive procedures with frequent sampling, making it impractical for continuous monitoring in many scenarios.