What method is commonly used to confirm successful intubation?

The method commonly used to confirm successful intubation is capnography, which detects the presence of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2). When a patient is successfully intubated, the endotracheal tube should be placed within the trachea, allowing for gas exchange to take place. Capnography measures the level of CO2 in the exhaled breath and provides immediate feedback on the placement of the tube.

When the tube is correctly positioned in the trachea, the exhaled air will contain CO2 due to normal metabolic processes, showing a characteristic waveform on the capnograph. If the tube is incorrectly placed in the esophagus, no CO2 will be detected, or significantly lower levels will be present, indicating a need to reassess the intubation.

While pulse oximetry, bilateral breath sounds assessment, and chest X-ray verification can provide additional information about a patient’s respiratory status, they are not as immediate or definitive for confirming intubation. Pulse oximetry measures oxygenation rather than directly confirming the tube’s placement; bilateral breath sounds can indicate lung inflation but may not reliably confirm correct tube placement, especially in emergencies; and chest X-ray, while accurate, is not a practical immediate