The Diagnostic Value of End-Tidal CO2 in Patients Diagnosed With Pneumothorax

Overview

Pneumothorax (PTX) is defined as the accumulation of air in the pleural space. PTX can cause a disruption in the perfusion of lung tissue in the affected area and increase intrathoracic pressure, potentially leading to obstruction of venous return and, consequently, posing a life-threatening condition. Therefore, PTX requiring urgent intervention is a significant concern in emergency departments. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) provides insight into carbon dioxide levels resulting from lung perfusion and serves as a respiratory parameter informing the prognosis of various critical illnesses. One of the most important factors determining lung perfusion is the effective lung area. Among the crucial issues for emergency departments are PTX cases, which typically regress following urgent intervention, leading to the establishment of an effective lung area. Hypotheses have been proposed in the literature suggesting that ETCO2 may be affected in PTX cases due to the relationship between effective lung area and ETCO2. In this study, investigetors aimed to investigate changes in ETCO2 levels following tube thoracostomy applied to PTX cases.

In the study, a GE brand patient monitor (GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Germany) was used for vital parameters, and a Medtronic brand Capnostream 35 respiratory monitor device (Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd., Israel) was used for ETCO2 measurement. Patients' ETCO2 measurements were performed using a device that measures ETCO2 levels in breaths delivered through the mouth and nose (sidestream measurement). ETCO2 values were measured before tube thoracostomy placement and at 2 and 4 hours after placement. The diagnosis of pneumothorax was confirmed by chest X-ray. Tube thoracostomy was performed by chest surgeons or emergency physicians. Indications for tube thoracostomy were determined by chest surgery doctors. Patients' age, gender, height, weight, vital signs, smoking history, pneumothorax causes, lateral and apex collapse amount (in mm), procedures performed, ETCO2 values before and after tube insertion at 2 and 4 hours, hemogram, biochemistry, and blood gas values were recorded on case report forms. Additionally, patients' lengths of stay were recorded using archive numbers through the hospital automation system. On chest X-ray, a distance greater than 2 cm between the parietal and visceral pleura at the hilum level according to British guidelines or a distance greater than 3 cm from the apex according to American guidelines was defined as a large pneumothorax. Additionally, the percentage of PTX volume for patients was calculated using the Collins method. The PTX percentage was calculated using the formula "%Collins = '4.2 + 4.7(a + b + c)'", where 'a' is the maximum apical interpleural distance, 'b' is the interpleural distance at the midpoint of the upper half of the lung, and 'c' is the interpleural distance at the midpoint of the lower half of the lung. Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) calculations were performed. The initial ETCO2 (ETCO2-0) was defined as the ETCO2 measured at the emergency department visit. PaCO2 was defined as the partial pressure of carbon dioxide measured with the first blood gas analysis taken at the emergency department visit. After lung expansion, ETCO2 was defined as the average value of ETCO2 measured 2 to 4 hours after tube thoracotomy (ETCO2-1/ETCO2-2, respectively). The increase in ETCO2 after expansion was defined as the increase in ETCO2 after closed tube thoracotomy (ETCO2 increase after drainage = ETCO2 after tube thoracotomy - initial ETCO2). The change from ETCO2-0 to ETCO2-1 was determined as deltaETCO2-1 (ΔETCO2-1), and the change from ETCO2-0 to ETCO2-2 was determined as ΔETCO2-2.