Confirm correct endotracheal tube position by:
- Visualizing ETT pass through vocal cords
- Look for bilateral chest rise
- Look for misting on the ETT
- Auscultate for bilateral breath sounds and absent air entry over the epigastrium
- Assess for exhaled CO2 with either capnography or colorimeter
The presence of exhaled CO2 is the most reliable of all these signs, and its absence indicates esophageal intubation until proven otherwise.