Trend Correlation Between End-Tidal and Arterial Carbon Dioxide During Laparoscopic Surgery in Trendelenburg Position

Overview

In this study, we want to find out whether a person's "end-tidal carbon dioxide" (ETCO₂)-a value measured from the air they breathe out-accurately reflects the amount of carbon dioxide in their blood, called "arterial carbon dioxide" (PaCO₂). We are focusing on people having laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery in the Trendelenburg position, which involves tilting the patient's head down to help the surgeon see the surgical area better. This position can sometimes affect carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Right now, doctors must draw blood samples to measure the PaCO₂ level. If we can show that ETCO₂ readings are reliable, doctors may not need to draw blood samples as often. During surgery, patients already need a small tube (catheter) in an artery so doctors can closely monitor their blood pressure. Whenever the anesthesiologist decides a blood sample is needed, we will note the blood's PaCO₂ level and compare it with the ETCO₂ reading taken at the same time. We will also record other measurements like heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. By comparing these measurements, we hope to learn if the ETCO₂ readings can reliably match the changes in PaCO₂ over time, making it a useful tool to monitor carbon dioxide levels in this type of surgery without needing as many blood tests. We plan to include 79 patients in this study, which should give us enough measurements to see how closely these two methods match.

Laparoscopic surgeries performed in the Trendelenburg position require tilting the patient's head downward, which can help provide optimal visualization of the surgical field. However, this position may increase intrathoracic pressure and reduce venous return, leading to potential changes in arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) levels. Arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling remains the gold standard for measuring PaCO₂, but it is invasive, costly, and provides only intermittent data. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) monitoring, available through standard anesthesia devices, offers continuous, noninvasive measurement of exhaled CO₂ and can serve as a surrogate for PaCO₂. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the agreement and trend correlation between ETCO₂ and PaCO₂ in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures in the Trendelenburg position. If ETCO₂ reliably tracks changes in PaCO₂, clinicians may safely reduce the number of ABG samples required during these operations, minimizing patient discomfort and healthcare costs. Primary objective: To evaluate the trend correlation between ETCO₂ and PaCO₂ over time using four-quadrant and polar plot analyses. Secondary objective: To determine the degree of agreement between ETCO₂ and PaCO₂ Study Type: Prospective, observational study. Study Setting: Operating rooms where adult patients (≥18 years old) are scheduled for laparoscopic surgery in the Trendelenburg position and require invasive arterial pressure monitoring as part of their routine care. Duration: Each patient's participation will be limited to the intraoperative period (i.e., from anesthesia induction to the end of surgery). Intraoperative management will follow a standardized anesthetic protocol, and ABG samples will be drawn at the anesthesiologist's discretion whenever clinically indicated. Each time an ABG is taken, the corresponding ETCO₂, PaCO₂, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature values will be recorded. Any use of inotropic or antihypertensive infusions will be documented, as such medications can influence hemodynamic stability and possibly ventilatory parameters. The patient's demographic details (age, sex, height, weight) and the type of surgical procedure will be recorded. Four-quadrant and polar plots will be generated to assess the concordance of changes in ETCO₂ with changes in PaCO₂ over time. Bland-Altman plots will be constructed to calculate the mean difference (bias) and 95% limits of agreement for each paired measurement.