Monitoring system for identifying an end-exhalation carbon dioxide value of enhanced clinical utility

A patient monitor for real-time assessment of the reliability of a carbon dioxide value at the end of exhalation as a guide for cardiopulmonary resuscitation comprising:

• a capnometer in connection with a flow tube for flow connection with the patient's airway and configured for generating an output comprising a time-series of exhaled carbon dioxide values from the patient during exhalation;
• a processor integrated with the capnometer and programmed to:
• determine in real-time the slope of the exhaled carbon dioxide values;
• identify a carbon dioxide value at an end of the exhalation;
• determine if the identified carbon dioxide value occurred when the slope of the exhaled carbon dioxide values was positive [greater than about zero];
• and provide an output in real-time responsive to said determination so that the healthcare worker is notified of the reliability of the identified carbon dioxide value as an indication to terminate cardiopulmonary resuscitation.