List the roles of capnography during general anaesthesia

1. Can detect complications

-accidental esophageal intubation
-kinked/obstructed ETT
-leaking/deflated cuff
-accidental extubation
-disconnection of breathing circuit

2. Can provide clues about respiratory effort

-Hypoventilation gives rise to high ETCO2
-Hyperventilation gives rise to low ETCO2
 3. Helps diagnosed cause of resp distress
- In bronchospasm, air trapped in alveoli and inconsistently released.

4. Detects shock
- Low ETCO2 with other signs of shock indicate poor systemic perfusion
due to hypovolaemia, sepsis, dysrhythmias.
- Rapid decrease in ETCO2 is seen in cardiac arrest and pulmonary
embolism (air, thrombus, gas)