Following emergency endotracheal intubation,what would an ETCO₂ of zero indicate?
A) esophageal tube placement
B) correct endotracheal placement
C) right mainstem placement
D) left mainstem placement

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An ETCO₂ of zero indicates that no CO₂ is being exhaled, meaning that either the tube is not in the trachea or the patient is not ventilating. If the tube is placed in the esophagus instead of the trachea, there will be no CO₂ detected in exhaled breath. Therefore, the correct choice is A.

Following Emergency Endotracheal Intubation,what Would an ETCO₂ of Zero Indicate