END-TIDAL CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATION AS AN INDICATOR OF PULMONARY BLOOD FLOW DURING CLOSED HEART SURGERY IN CHILDREN A Report of Two Cases

The value of the continuous monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration as an indicator of the acute intraoperative interruption of pulmonary blood flow, in patients with pre-existing restrictions of pulmonary blood flow undergoing closed heart surgery, is illustrated by two case reports. Decreases in end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration often appeared several minutes before the changes in systemic haemodynamics.