How can proper placement of an endotracheal tube be confirmed?

Confirming the proper placement of an endotracheal tube is essential for ensuring effective ventilation and preventing complications. Visualization of the tube passing through the vocal cords directly confirms that the tube is in the trachea rather than in the esophagus or other structures. When an intubation is performed, the clinician should see the tube passing through the vocal cords into the tracheal opening, which indicates that the airway has been successfully secured.

While end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring is a reliable method for assessing tube placement, it primarily serves as a confirmation tool after intubation has taken place, rather than a direct observation of placement. Changes in CO2 levels in arterial blood also assist in confirming proper ventilation but are not used for immediate placement confirmation. Additionally, auscultation of heart sounds is unrelated to airway placement and does not provide information on the location of the endotracheal tube. Therefore, visualization of the tube passing through the vocal cords is the most accurate and direct method to confirm intubation.