A 42-year-old woman on ICU develops acute severe asthma requiring intubation. After intubation, her ETCO2 suddenly drops from 5.5 kPa to 0 kPa. SpO2 s...

Question

A 42-year-old woman on ICU develops acute severe asthma requiring intubation. After intubation, her ETCO2 suddenly drops from 5.5 kPa to 0 kPa. SpO2 starts to fall. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Oesophageal intubation - the ETT has been placed in the oesophagus, not the trachea, and the absence of ETCO2 confirms this

Answer

Resolution of the bronchospasm

Answer

Cardiac arrest

Answer

The capnograph is malfunctioning

Answer

Severe bronchospasm preventing any gas flow

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Oesophageal Intubation

A 42-year-old woman on ICU develops acute severe asthma requiring intubation. After intubation, her ETCO2 suddenly drops from 5.5 kPa to 0 kPa. SpO2 starts to fall. What is the most likely cause?