EtCO2 side stream" refers to a method of measuring end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) concentration by drawing a small sample of exhaled breath from a patient's airway through a thin tube, separate from the main breathing circuit, to a sensor that analyzes the CO2 level - essentially, a non-invasive way to monitor a patient's breathing by taking a "side stream" of their exhaled breath to analyze its CO2 content; this is considered the most common method for EtCO2 monitoring in clinical settings.
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