Global capnography to improve safety for all patients: time for urgent action

This article emphasizes the pressing need for worldwide access to capnography, a critical monitoring tool for ensuring patient safety during anesthesia, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Unlike pulse oximetry, capnography’s adoption has lagged due to high costs and limited government support. The Global Capnography Project (GCAP) and the Smile Train-Lifebox Capnography initiative aim to overcome these barriers by providing affordable, durable devices and thorough training for anesthesia providers in LMICs. The article calls for a unified effort to make capnography as accessible as pulse oximetry, highlighting the importance of education, government advocacy, and adaptable devices to close the global gap in patient safety standards.

Authors: Ellen P. O’Sullivan, Mary T. Nabukenya and Mark Newton