Transcutaneous CO2 monitoring (tcPCO2) is considered by many neonatal teams to be standard of care in the NICU for intubated patients – but many children’s hospitals utilize this technology across many more patient types and care settings. This document explores tcPCO2 in clinical settings, demonstrating the impact that this technology can have throughout a children’s hospital.

The Sentec suite of attachment options for transcutaneous CO2 monitoring allows care teams to confidently choose solutions that support the clinical priorities of each patient — across populations and care settings.

Learn more about how a level IV NICU team was recently successful in developing an all-encompassing strategy to drive consistent utilization of transcutaneous monitoring with the goal of improving patient care.

In NICUs, PICUs, and sleep labs around the world, transcutaneous monitoring has increasingly become a trusted tool for continuous, noninvasive CO2 measurement. The technology can help reduce the need for frequent blood draws, enable proactive ventilator management, and offer additional benefits as care teams support diverse patient populations.

In the NICU, closely monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is a crucial aspect of care for premature and critically ill infants — fluctuations in CO2 levels can disrupt cerebral blood flow, increasing the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), and other cerebral injuries.¹

In a small baby unit, transcutaneous CO2 monitoring can support care teams in delivering the high level of care preterm babies require. The technology provides continuous CO2 monitoring, supporting timely assessments of respiratory status to aid in protecting the vulnerable brains and lungs of neonatal patients.

In the NICU, critically ill and premature babies receive specialized, around-the-clock care to support their fragile health. This often means using respiratory support to help with their breathing, especially important for little ones with underdeveloped or compromised lungs. By using transcutaneous CO2 monitoring, NICU teams can keep a constant eye on their status, which helps them fine-tune and optimize the support they need.

Introducing any new technology in a clinical setting can be an exciting time – you’re eager to use your new tool and see the benefits for patients – especially in the NICU where the smallest, sickest babies are.

In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), blood sampling, including arterial blood gas (ABG) tests and capillary blood tests (commonly known as a ‘heel stick’), plays an important role in patient monitoring. These tests help care teams monitor a variety of parameters, including blood pH levels and concentrations of vital gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2).

How can NICU teams ensure that all of these priorities are adequately managed? Here, we’ll take a deeper look at NICU ventilation, the challenges that clinicians face, and strategies that can help.