What does implementing a capnography monitor measure?

Implementing a capnography monitor measures expiratory CO2 levels, which is crucial for assessing a patient's ventilation status. Capnography provides real-time feedback on how much carbon dioxide is being expelled from the lungs during exhalation. This information is essential in various medical settings, particularly in emergency medicine and anesthesia, as it helps clinicians determine whether a patient's breathing is adequate and whether they are effectively eliminating CO2.

Monitoring CO2 levels can indicate respiratory issues, such as hypoventilation or hyperventilation, and is also valuable in confirming correct placement of endotracheal tubes during intubation. The ability to visualize CO2 levels allows for prompt identification of potential respiratory complications, making capnography an important tool in patient monitoring.

The other options focus on different physiological measures: blood glucose levels pertain to metabolic control, respiratory rate indicates how frequently a patient breathes, and heart rhythm relates to cardiac function. While all of these measurements are significant in their contexts, they do not pertain to the specific function of a capnography monitor, which is solely focused on measuring CO2 levels during the breathing process.