What does capnography help confirm in airway management?

Capnography is a valuable tool in airway management, particularly for confirming the placement of endotracheal tubes. The primary reason it is effective for this purpose is that it provides real-time feedback on the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in exhaled air. When an endotracheal tube is properly positioned within the trachea, it will consistently measure the levels of CO2, indicating that the tube is within the airway.

In contrast, if the tube were incorrectly placed in the esophagus, it would not detect carbon dioxide because there would be no ventilation occurring from the lungs. Therefore, the presence of a consistent capnographic waveform and an appropriate numerical reading signifies effective ventilation and proper tube placement, making capnography an essential component of confirming airway management success.

Other options, while relevant to respiratory assessment, do not specifically pertain to the confirmation of tube placement:

• Monitoring a patient’s oxygen saturation is typically done using pulse oximetry, which measures the level of oxygen in the blood but does not provide information about airway placement.

• Exhaled carbon dioxide levels are important; however, without the context of confirming tube placement, this information alone does not validate that the endotracheal tube is in