After an intubation attempt, an expired capnogram indicates a CO₂ level near zero. What does this finding probably indicate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A capnogram reading near zero after intubation typically indicates that the endotracheal tube is not in the trachea, as there is no CO2 being detected in the exhaled air. The most common reason for this is esophageal intubation, where the tube is mistakenly placed in the esophagus instead of the trachea.

After an Intubation Attempt, an Expired Capnogram Indicates a CO2 V˙/Q˙\dot { V } / \dot { Q }V˙/Q˙​

After an Intubation Attempt, an Expired Capnogram Indicates a CO₂ $\dot { V } / \dot { Q }$