Capnography in patients with severe neurological impairment

•Respiratory disease is a common reason for hospitalization and mortality in persons with severe intellectual and developmental disability.•Capnography is the measurement and numerical display of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2).•86 neurologically impaired patients were compared with 53 healthy children and young adults and evaluated with capnography.•Patients with severe neurological impairment had higher baseline EtCO2 values than healthy individuals.•Kyphoscoliosis and the use of antipsychotic drugs were the major factors to increase EtCO2 levels.

Respiratory disease is a common reason for hospitalization and mortality in persons with severe intellectual and developmental disability. Capnography is the measurement and numerical display of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2). This was a prospective, case controlled, cross sectional study to assess differences of baseline EtCO2 values between neurologically impaired patients and healthy individuals. 86 neurologically impaired patients were evaluated in the study group. Their mean age ± SD was 25.65 ± 10.48 years with 41% males. 53 healthy children and young adults were evaluated in the control group. Their mean age ± SD was 21.95 ± 10.38 years with 54.7% males. Patients with severe neurological impairment had higher baseline EtCO2 values than healthy individuals. Kyphoscoliosis and the use of antipsychotic drugs were the major factors to increase EtCO2 levels. Knowing the patient's baseline EtCO2 value, as well as baseline oximetry, could guide treatment decisions, when assessing the patient's oxygenation and ventilation during acute respiratory illness, and can potentially prevent unnecessary laboratory and imaging investigations as well as over treatment. Future research can shed light on the utility of capnometry and clinical implications of higher baseline EtCO2 values among neurologically impaired patients.