What device can be used to confirm proper endotracheal tube placement?

Capnography is a critical tool for confirming proper endotracheal tube placement because it measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled air. When the tube is correctly placed in the trachea, it allows for effective ventilation and the presence of carbon dioxide in exhaled breath. The capnometer provides a numerical value and a waveform display, indicating that the tube is in the right position. A sudden appearance of carbon dioxide after intubation, as evidenced by capnography, confirms that the tube is in the trachea rather than the esophagus.

Other methods, while helpful in assessing placement, do not provide immediate or definitive confirmation. A pulse oximeter can indicate oxygen saturation but does not specifically confirm the position of the endotracheal tube. A chest x-ray can confirm placement but is not immediately available during an emergency situation and can delay patient care. A stethoscope can be used to auscultate breath sounds in the lungs but is not as reliable as capnography, as it can be difficult to differentiate sounds from the stomach and lungs without clear and direct visual confirmation of tube placement. Therefore, capnography is the gold standard for real-time verification of endotracheal tube placement.