Agreement Between Arterial Carbon Dioxide Levels With End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Levels and Associated Factors in Children Hospitalized With Traumatic Brain Injury

Key Points Question Is end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) a reliable surrogate for partial pressure of carbon dioxide, arterial (Paco2) in children admitted to the intensive care unit with traumatic brain injury? Findings In this secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study that included 445 paired Paco2-EtCO2 values from 137 patients, only 42.0% of Paco2 values were within 0 to 5 mm Hg of paired EtCO2 values. Development of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome within 24 hours after admission was associated with significantly lower likelihood of Paco2-EtCO2 agreement than was no development of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. Meaning This study suggests that EtCO2 values are not a reliable substitute for Paco2 values during the first 24 hours after pediatric traumatic brain injury, especially in the presence of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Importance Alterations in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, arterial (Paco2) can affect cerebral perfusion after traumatic brain injury. End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) monitoring is a noninvasive tool used to estimate Paco2 values. Objective To examine the agreement between Paco2 and EtCO2 and associated factors in children with traumatic brain injury. Design, Setting, and Participants A secondary analysis was conducted using data from a prospective cohort study of 137 patients younger than 18 years with traumatic brain injury who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of a level I trauma center between May 1, 2011, and July 31, 2017. Analysis was performed from December 17, 2018, to January 10, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures The closest EtCO2 value obtained within 30 minutes of a Paco2 value and the closest systolic blood pressure value obtained within 60 minutes prior to a Paco2 value during the first 24 hours after admission were recorded. The main outcome of Paco2-EtCO2 agreement was defined as Paco2 between 0 and 5 mm Hg greater than the paired EtCO2 value, and it was determined using Bland-Altman analysis, Passing and Bablok regression, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Multivariable regression models determined which factors were associated with agreement. Results The analysis included 137 patients (34 girls and 103 boys; mean [SD] age, 10.0 [6.3] years) and 445 paired Paco2-EtCO2 data points. On average, Paco2 was 2.7 mm Hg (95% limits of agreement, –11.3 to 16.7) higher than EtCO2. Overall, 187 of all Paco2-EtCO2 pairs (42.0%) agreed. There was larger variation in the Paco2-EtCO2 difference during the first 8 hours compared with 9 to 24 hours after admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. Development of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome within 24 hours of admission was associated with a lower likelihood of Paco2-EtCO2 agreement (adjusted odds ratio, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.08-0.51) compared with no development of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. A diagnosis of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome 1 to 7 days after admission was associated with a larger first-day Paco2-EtCO2 difference compared with those who never developed pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (mean [SD] difference, 4.48 [3.70] vs 0.46 [5.50] mm Hg). Conclusions and Relevance In this study of pediatric traumatic brain injury, Paco2-EtCO2 agreement was low, especially among patients with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. Low Paco2-EtCO2 agreement early in hospitalization may be associated with future development of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. Data on EtCO2 should not be substituted for data on Paco2 during the first 24 hours.
This secondary analysis of a cohort study examines agreement between partial pressure of carbon dioxide, arterial (Paco2) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) and associated factors in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).