What is the most reliable method of confirming and monitoring correct placement of an ET tube?

Continuous waveform capnography is the most reliable method for confirming and monitoring the correct placement of an endotracheal (ET) tube. This technique provides real-time feedback on the presence of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2), which indicates that the tube is properly placed within the trachea and not in the esophagus or in the stomach.

When the ET tube is correctly positioned, CO2 will be consistently detected in the exhaled breath due to the normal physiological processes of respiration, where carbon dioxide is produced and expelled from the lungs. This continuous feedback allows for ongoing monitoring of the tube's position, making any changes in the waveform readily apparent if the tube becomes displaced.

While other methods such as visual inspection and auscultation for breath sounds can give initial indications of proper tube placement, they do not provide the same level of specificity and reliability as capnography. Visual inspection can be subjective and may not confirm whether the tube is indeed in the trachea. Listening for breath sounds may also be misleading if one lung is ventilated differently or if accidental extubation has occurred but sounds are still present.

Although chest X-ray can confirm tube placement, it is not as immediate or practical in emergency situations where rapid assessments