What would you expect when using an end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) detector on a deceased person?

When using an end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) detector on a deceased person, you would expect to find no CO2 detected. This is because, in a living individual, CO2 is produced as a byproduct of metabolism and is transported to the lungs to be exhaled. In a person who has died, metabolic processes have ceased, which means there is no ongoing cellular respiration or CO2 production. Consequently, the absence of gas exchange will lead to no measurable end-tidal CO2 levels.

High levels of CO2 would indicate ongoing metabolic activity, which is not possible in a deceased person. Normal CO2 levels would imply that the person is still breathing and metabolizing, leading to the exhalation of carbon dioxide. Inconsistent CO2 readings could occur in situations where there are physiological changes affecting CO2 production or exhalation, which again would not be the case in a deceased individual. Thus, the expected outcome when using an end-tidal CO2 detector on someone who has passed away is indeed no detectable CO2 levels.