Assignment Task: Adam Schmidt is a 42-year old male who suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries in a serious motorcycle accident. He is unconscious and is intubated. Intubation is the process of inserting a tube, called an endotracheal tube, through the mouth and then into the airway (trachea). This is done so that a patient can be placed on a ventilator to assist with breathing. 10 intubation.png Intubation is a process that inserts a breathing tube into the airway (trachea) to assist breathing. His capnogram and vitals are shown below. 11 case1.png Vital statistics: Heart Rate (HR) = 88 Respiratory Rate (RR) = assisted CO2 = 38-40 mmHg Blood oxygen saturation (SPO2) = 100% on 15 liters per minute of oxygen Exhaled CO2 is confirmed with a good waveform and a CO2 level of 38-40 mm/hg. Normal CO2 values are 35-45 mmHg. Oxygen is being supplied at 15 liters per minute.
a) Is his CO2 level within normal limits?
b) Is the capnography waveform normal or abnormal?