Arterial to end-tidal CO₂ gradients during isocapnic hyperventilation

Isocapnic hyperventilation (ICHV) is occasionally used to maintain the end-expired CO₂ partial pressure (P_ETCO₂) when the inspired CO₂ (P_ICO₂) rises. Whether maintaining P_ETCO₂ with ICHV during an increase of the P_ICO₂ also maintains arterial PCO₂ (P_aCO₂) remains poorly documented. 12 ASA PS I–II subjects undergoing a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) (n = 11) or cystectomy (n = 1) under general endotracheal anesthesia with sevoflurane in O₂/air (40% inspired O₂) were enrolled. P_ICO₂ was sequentially increased from 0 to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2% by adding CO₂ to the inspiratory limb of the circle system, while increasing ventilation to a target P_ETCO₂ of 4.7–4.9% by adjusting respiratory rate during controlled mechanical ventilation. P_a-ETCO₂ gradients were determined after a 15 min equilibration period at each P_ICO₂ level and compared using ANOVA. Mean (standard deviation) age, height, and weight were 66 (6) years, 171 (6) cm, and 75 (8) kg, respectively. Capnograms were normal and hemodynamic parameters remained stable. P_ETCO₂ could be maintained within 4.7–4.9% in all subjects at all times except in 1 subject with 1.5% P_ICO₂ and 5 subjects with 2.0% P_ICO₂; data from the one subject in whom both 1.5 and 2.0% P_ICO₂ resulted in P_ETCO₂ > 5.1% were excluded from analysis. P_a-ETCO₂ gradients did not change when P_ICO₂ increased. The effect of a modest rise of P_ICO₂ up to 1.5% on P_ETCO₂ during RARP can be readily overcome by increasing ventilation without altering the P_a-ETCO₂ gradients. At higher P_ICO₂, airway pressures may become a limiting factor, which requires further study.