Waveform capnography is emerging as a standard monitoring tool to improve safety among intubated patients. Failure to use waveform capnography contributed to >70% of ICU-related airway deaths in the NAP4 audit.

Capnography was pioneered in the operating room, but the safety implications for all critically ill patients are clear (the standard of safety monitoring in the ICU shouldn’t be lower than in the operating room).

Capnography is increasingly recommended both to confirm endotracheal tube insertion and to subsequently monitor the patency and effectiveness of ventilation throughout the duration of intubation.

Within the next decade, continuous waveform capnography will likely become a universal standard of care across all well-resourced intensive care units.

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