What is the role of capnography in airway management?

Capnography plays a crucial role in airway management primarily by monitoring carbon dioxide levels during ventilation and confirming proper tube placement. This monitoring is essential because it provides real-time feedback on the patient’s ventilation status. The end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) levels can indicate how effectively carbon dioxide is being expelled from the body.

When an endotracheal tube is placed, capnography helps verify correct placement by demonstrating the presence of carbon dioxide in the exhaled breath. If the tube is improperly positioned, such as being in the esophagus, there will be little to no carbon dioxide detected, alerting the clinician to the need for repositioning. This immediate confirmation helps enhance patient safety and assures proper ventilation is taking place, which is vital in emergency situations and during anesthesia.

The other options do not accurately encapsulate the primary role of capnography. While oxygen saturation monitoring is important, it is typically a function of pulse oximetry. Assessing respiratory rate is essential in evaluating patient status, but capnography specifically focuses on carbon dioxide levels rather than directly measuring respiratory rate. Lung compliance evaluation pertains to the mechanics of breathing and is typically assessed through other methods, making it unrelated to the specific function of capnography in airway