According to a recent study, nurses were able to detect respiratory depression in post-operative patients receiving patient-controlled analgesia more effectively when alerted by capnographic monitoring than pulse-oximetry. Use of capnography has improved clinician confidence that opioid dosing can be safely used in postoperative patients for more effective pain management.

Effective April 17, 2016, the Florida Board of Dentistry has two new amended regulatory changes (64B5-14.009 and 64B5-14.010), which mandate the use of capnography and pulse oximetry in conscious sedation procedures. For more information read this entry.