What monitoring tool provides continuous assessment of ventilation during procedural sedation?

• A. Capnography (end-tidal CO2 monitoring)
• B. Only pulse oximetry
• C. Electrocardiography alone
• D. Noninvasive blood pressure cuff alone

Answer: (A)

Continuous assessment of ventilation during procedural sedation is provided by capnography, which measures end-tidal CO2 and displays a real-time waveform. This directly reflects how well a patient is ventilating and allows immediate detection of hypoventilation or apnea, enabling timely intervention. In sedation, respiratory depression is common, and capnography often alerts caregivers before oxygen saturation drops, which can happen later if the patient is receiving supplemental oxygen. Other monitors mainly track oxygenation (pulse oximetry) or cardiac activity (ECG) or blood pressure, but none provide the ongoing ventilation status that capnography does. This real-time ventilation feedback makes capnography the best tool for continuous ventilation monitoring in procedural sedation.