What method is 100% accurate in verifying endotracheal tube placement?

The method considered 100% accurate in verifying endotracheal tube placement is direct visualization. This involves visually confirming that the tube is positioned correctly within the trachea during intubation, often using a laryngoscope to see the vocal cords and ensure the tube passes through them.

Capnography measures exhaled carbon dioxide levels and is a reliable indicator of proper tube placement in most cases, but it can show false negatives in certain scenarios, such as when there’s low cardiac output or the patient is in respiratory arrest for an extended period.

While a chest X-ray can provide additional confirmation of tube placement, it is not an immediate tool used in the field and has limitations, such as the time it takes to obtain the X-ray and the potential for misinterpretation.

Thus, while capnography and chest X-ray are useful tools, they do not guarantee 100% accuracy like direct visualization does during the intubation process.