A patient being monitored by capnography exhibits a sudden rise in end-tidal CO₂ levels. All of the following are possible causes of this change except:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A sudden rise in end-tidal CO2 levels could be caused by a sudden release of a tourniquet, a sudden increase in cardiac output, or the injection of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), as all these conditions can lead to increased CO2 delivery to the lungs. However, a massive pulmonary embolism would likely cause a decrease in end-tidal CO2 levels due to reduced blood flow to the lungs and impaired CO2 exchange.

A Patient Being Monitored by Capnography Exhibits a Sudden Rise