Continuous Capnography During Propofol Deep Sedation

Undetected hypoventilation is associated with complications in propofol sedation. To evaluate whether capnography reduces episodes of hypoxia during propofol sedation, researchers in the Netherlands randomized 427 healthy women undergoing deep sedation for minor gynecologic procedures to receive a standard protocol of pulse oximetry and visual monitoring of breathing versus the standard protocol plus continuous capnography.

Hypoxemia was defined as an oxygen saturation of <91% for any duration. There were no significant differences between the capnography and control groups in number of patients with hypoxemia (26% and 25%), profound (<81% SaO₂) hypoxemia (3% in each), or prolonged (≥60 seconds) hypoxemia (4% and 1%). Significantly more airw…