What is the primary purpose of using an end-tidal CO2 detector immediately after endotracheal intubation?
To confirm proper tube placement
To measure oxygen saturation
To assess respiratory rate
To determine acid-base status
The Correct Answer is A
A. To confirm proper tube placement: An end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) detector measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled air. A sudden presence of CO2 after intubation indicates that the tube is correctly positioned in the trachea rather than the esophagus, providing immediate confirmation of placement.
B. To measure oxygen saturation: ETCO2 monitoring does not assess oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation is measured using pulse oximetry, which provides information about hemoglobin oxygenation rather than CO2 levels.
C. To assess respiratory rate: While ETCO2 waveforms can provide indirect information about the rate of exhalation, its primary purpose immediately after intubation is to verify tracheal placement, not to monitor respiratory rate.
D. To determine acid-base status: ETCO2 reflects ventilatory status and CO2 elimination but does not provide a full assessment of acid-base balance. Arterial blood gas analysis is required for accurate evaluation of pH and acid-base status.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis: The patient has a low pH (7.19), indicating acidemia, and an elevated CO2 (53 mmHg), consistent with respiratory acidosis. The HCO3 is slightly elevated (30 mEq/L), showing that metabolic compensation is occurring but has not yet normalized the pH, making it a partially compensated state.
B. Respiratory alkalosis: Respiratory alkalosis is characterized by a high pH and low CO2. In this case, the pH is low and CO2 is elevated, so respiratory alkalosis is not present.
C. Partially compensated metabolic acidosis: Metabolic acidosis typically presents with low pH and low HCO3. Here, HCO3 is elevated, not decreased, and CO2 is high, indicating the primary disturbance is respiratory, not metabolic.
D. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis: Uncompensated respiratory acidosis would have a low pH and high CO2 without any rise in HCO3. Since HCO3 is slightly elevated, partial metabolic compensation is occurring.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. To confirm proper tube placement: An end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) detector measures the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled air. A sudden presence of CO2 after intubation indicates that the tube is correctly positioned in the trachea rather than the esophagus, providing immediate confirmation of placement.
B. To measure oxygen saturation: ETCO2 monitoring does not assess oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation is measured using pulse oximetry, which provides information about hemoglobin oxygenation rather than CO2 levels.
C. To assess respiratory rate: While ETCO2 waveforms can provide indirect information about the rate of exhalation, its primary purpose immediately after intubation is to verify tracheal placement, not to monitor respiratory rate.
D. To determine acid-base status: ETCO2 reflects ventilatory status and CO2 elimination but does not provide a full assessment of acid-base balance. Arterial blood gas analysis is required for accurate evaluation of pH and acid-base status.
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