Global publications on end-tidal carbon dioxide: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND: Bibliometric and visual analysis of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) literature was conducted to clarify the current research hotpots and development trends, and provide new ideas for basic research and clinical diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Without any time limit, Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science databases from the Web of Science core collection were used as data sources, and bibliometric and VOSviewer software were used to visualize and analyze the literature in terms of authors, journals, countries, institutions, and their collaborative networks, as well as the keyword networks. RESULTS: The final inclusion of 4442 EtCO2-related publications, the number of publications is generally on the rise; the top 3 countries in terms of publications are the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada; the top 3 institutions are the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and Harvard University; the journal with the largest number of publications is the Journal of Applied Physiology. Currently, research in this field mainly focuses on the definition of end-expiratory CO2 partial pressure, monitoring methods, monitoring indexes, and application disciplines; the influencing factors related to the application of EtCO2, its application in various diseases, and its relationship with obstructive sleep apnea are the hot spots of research, and perhaps a major trend in the future. CONCLUSION: An increasing number of publications indicate that researchers are showing interest in the field of EtCO2, and ongoing research maintains a relatively mature level. The international community has established a good foundation for cooperation, and it is necessary to increase cooperation among researchers, institutions, and countries. At the same time, it is necessary to explore in-depth and strengthen personnel cooperation, expand the coverage of fund support, and further improve the quality of literature.