What does EtCO2 stand for?

• A. Exhaled CO2
• B. End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide
• C. End-Tidal CO2
• D. Exhaled Gas CO2

Answer: (C)

EtCO2 is the level of carbon dioxide at the end of an exhaled breath, measured by capnography to assess ventilation. The standard expansion is End-Tidal CO2, since it specifies the end of expiration and uses CO2 to denote carbon dioxide. While End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide conveys the same idea, the conventional term is End-Tidal CO2. The other phrasings describe general exhaled CO2 or exhaled gas, which do not specify the end-tidal (breath-cycle) measurement.