Which technique is used to confirm the correct placement of an endotracheal tube?

The technique used to confirm the correct placement of an endotracheal tube most effectively is capnography. This method assesses the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the exhaled breath. When an endotracheal tube is properly positioned in the trachea, the patient will exhale carbon dioxide, indicating adequate ventilation and confirming that the tube is not in the esophagus or other structures.

Capnography provides rapid feedback, which is critical in emergency situations where time is of the essence. The waveform produced by capnography allows for real-time monitoring, making it a reliable method to ensure the airway is secure and functioning as intended.

While other methods such as auscultation, chest X-ray, and bronchoscopy can provide information regarding tube placement, they do not offer the same immediacy and accuracy as capnography under typical prehospital conditions. Auscultation may help detect breath sounds but is not as definitive as capnography, especially in cases where the positioning is uncertain. Chest X-ray is more of a secondary confirmation method and can take time to obtain, whereas bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure not typically used in urgent settings for this purpose.