PCO2 Full Form in Medical is Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide. Also called carbon dioxide concentration, PCO2 assesses carbon dioxide within venous or arterial blood. It usually serves as a marker of adequate alveolar ventilation within the lungs. Under normal physiological conditions, the PCO2 value normally lies between 35 -45 mmHg. PCO2 is usually assessed through arterial blood gas. However, there are other methods, such as central venous, peripheral venous or mixed venous sampling.
Due to the need for measurement accuracy, collecting blood samples to determine PCO2 is an important area of clinical concern. Traditionally arterial blood gases have been the more effective and consistent evidence for monitoring pCO2. Hemodynamic assessment is facilitated by placing an arterial catheter as a collection of arterial blood gases becomes readily available.
The most common use of PCO2 is the monitoring of PvCO2 from venous blood or PaCO2 from arterial blood. The physiology behind the regulation of minute ventilation states that as PaCO2 or PvCO2 increases, the bicarbonate buffer system will attempt to compensate by creating ions other than hydrogen ions.
To treat PCO2, medications like antibiotics for respiratory infections, bronchodilators, and oral corticosteroids are recommended.