Apnea-CO₂ alarm

Manifestations	Loss of capnogram
Potential causes	Patient factors
	Patient apnea (no respiratory effort)
	Esophageal intubation
	Cardiac arrest
	Equipment factors
	False alarm
	Capnometer sample line crack or disconnect
	Exhaled gas exiting breathing system before sampling site
	Large cuff leak (no exhaled gas into breathing system)
	Lower airway suction (gastric tube in trachea, tracheal/bronchial suction)
	Breathing system disconnect
	Breathing system obstruction
	Airway (ETT or LMA) obstruction
	Ventilator turned off or cycling failure malfunction
Suggested responses	Check circulation (electrocardiogram and plethysmogram)
	Determine whether patient ventilation is occurring (examine chest, auscultate lungs, check respiratory monitors, check SpO₂)
	Rule out esophageal intubation if recently intubated
	Look for breathing circuit disconnection or obstruction
	Verify that ventilator is operating
	Switch to manual ventilation
	If necessary, ventilate with manual resuscitation device connected to O₂

CO₂: carbon dioxide; ETT: endotracheal tube; LMA: laryngeal mask airway; SpO₂: pulse oximetry; O₂: oxygen.

Graphic 113672 Version 1.0

Apnea-CO2 alarm