Use of Tube Condensation as an Indicator of Endotracheal Tube Placement

Part 8: Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support

“…However, no single confirmation technique is completely reliable. 75,76 Continuous waveform capnography is recommended in addition to clinical assessment as the most reliable method of confirming and monitoring correct placement of an endotracheal tube (Class I, LOE A).…”

The Effectiveness of Out-of-Hospital Use of Continuous End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring on the Rate of Unrecognized Misplaced Intubation Within a Regional Emergency Medical Services System

“…Relying solely on clinical signs for verification of endotracheal tube position has subsequently been shown to be unreliable and inaccurate. [20][21][22][23][24] The current guidelines, adopted by the American Heart Association in 2000, state that ''emergency responders must confirm tracheal tube position by using nonphysical examination techniques. These include esophageal detector devices, qualitative end-tidal CO 2 indicators, and capnographic and capnometric devices.''…”

Part 14: Pediatric Advanced Life Support

“…103 Since no single confirmation technique, including clinical signs 104 or the presence of water vapor in the tube, 105 is completely reliable, use both clinical assessment and confirmatory devices to verify proper tube placement immediately after intubation, again after securing the endotracheal tube, during transport, and each time the patient is moved (eg, from gurney to bed) (Class I, LOE B).…”