Module 04
Airway & Capnography
Airway management and continuous waveform capnography — confirmation, quality monitoring, and ROSC detection.
Airway Management Framework
- Think in sequence: Airway → Breathing → Oxygenation → Ventilation.
- Ventilate patients with a pulse every 6 seconds (10 breaths/minute).
- Confirm ET tube placement using continuous waveform capnography.
- Measure an oropharyngeal airway from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the mandible.
- Continuous waveform capnography is the gold standard for confirming ET tube placement.
Capnography — What It Confirms
- Tube placement (persistent waveform = correctly placed).
- CPR quality (PETCO₂ reflects cardiac output during compressions).
- ROSC (sudden rise in PETCO₂ suggests return of spontaneous circulation).
Capnography Interpretation
| Finding | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Persistent waveform | Tube is correctly placed in the trachea. |
| PETCO₂ < 10 mmHg | CPR quality is inadequate — improve compressions. |
| Sudden rise in PETCO₂ | Possible return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). |
Clinical Pearl
Capnography is your most versatile monitoring tool in arrest — it tells you about the airway, the compressions, and the heart simultaneously.
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