End-tidal carbon dioxide concentration as an indicator of pulmonary blood flow during closed heart surgery in children. A report of two cases.

The value of the continuous monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration as an indicator of the acute intraoperative interruption of pulmonary blood flow, in patients with pre-existing restrictions of pulmonary blood flow undergoing closed heart surgery, is illustrated by two case reports. Decreases in end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration often appeared several minutes before the changes in systemic haemodynamics.