Neuroanesthesia & neurocritical care
Association between prehospital end-tidal carbon dioxide levels and mortality in patients with suspected severe traumatic brain injury
Authors' conclusion
A safe zone of 35-45 mmHg for end-tidal CO2 guidance seems reasonable during prehospital care. Particularly, end-tidal partial pressures of less than 35 mmHg were associated with a significantly increased mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with severe TBI treated by Dutch Helicopter EMS, February 2012–December 2017 (BRAIN-PROTECT)eligible for analysis
- Participants
- 1,776 patients
- Exposure
- Prehospital end-tidal CO2 categories
- Outcome
- 30-day mortality
- Follow-up
- 30 days
Methodological detailsmultivariable logistic regression, Follow-up 1 year after inclusion
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Follow-up 1 year after inclusion
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
30-day mortality by end-tidal CO2
Each group vs 35-45 mmHgOdds ratio (95% CI)P value
< 35 mmHghypocapnia
1.89(1.53–2.34)
P < 0.001≥ 45 mmHghypercapnia
0.83(0.62–1.11)
P = 0.212- L-shaped association between end-tidal CO2 and 30-day mortality, sharp increase below 35 mmHg
- P = 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Association between prehospital end-tidal carbon dioxide levels and mortality in patients with suspected severe traumatic brain injury. Intensive Care Med. Published 19 April 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →