[Peranesthetic monitoring of ventilation in children: value of capnometry].

Continuous measurement of the end-expiratory partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO2) during anaesthesia has been proposed for non-invasive monitoring of arterial PCO2 (PaCO2). The values and the stability of the difference (PaCO2-PETCO2) during anaesthesia were studied for two ventilatory settings in eight children with healthy lungs and normal cardiac function undergoing minor surgery. PaCO2 values were all within a physiological range (30.2-43.6 mmHg). PaCO2-PETCO2 values ranged from 0.2 to 9.9 mmHg. With either mode of ventilation, there was no significant variation in PaCO2-PETCO2. It is concluded that estimation of PaCO2 was reliable during anaesthesia when haemodynamic and ventilatory states were stable, but a first determination of the PaCO2-PETCO2 gradient remained necessary for each child.