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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department
Published on: January 30, 2011
Confirmation of endotracheal tube placement: a miniaturized infrared qualitative CO2 detector
R B Vukmir1, M B Heller, K L Stein
1Department of Critical Care Medicine/Anesthesia, Presbyterian-University Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Study Objectives:
A miniaturized, infrared, solid-state, end-tidal CO2 detector was used to confirm emergency endotracheal tube (ETT) placement.
Design:
This prospective, clinical study used a miniature, infrared, solid-state end-tidal CO2 detector to confirm ETT placement in an acute setting.
Setting:
The ICU, emergency department, and hospital floor.
Type Of Participants:
There were 88 consecutive adult patients requiring 100 emergency intubations.
Measurements And Main Results:
The indication for airway intervention was considered urgent in 79% and under arrest conditions in 21%. The mean number of intubation attempts was 1.83 (range, one to five) with difficulty of intubation of 6.48 and confirmation of 7.75, on a linear scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest). Determination of ETT position revealed intratracheal intubation in 96% and esophageal intubation in 4%. Placement was confirmed by direct visualization or radiography in all cases. Sensitivity and specificity for ETT localization was 100% (P less than .0001).
Conclusion:
This hand-held infrared capnometer reliably confirms ETT placement under emergency conditions.
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