What is a colormetric CO2 detector primarily used for?

A colorimetric CO2 detector is primarily used to confirm tracheal placement of an endotracheal tube (ETT). When an ETT is correctly placed in the trachea, exhaled air will contain carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lungs. The colorimetric detector changes color based on the concentration of CO2 present in the exhaled breath, providing immediate visual feedback that the tube is positioned correctly in the trachea, as opposed to the esophagus.

In comparison, while monitoring lung compliance, determining ventilation effectiveness, and measuring arterial blood gases are all important aspects of respiratory assessment and management, they are not the primary functions of a colorimetric CO2 detector. For instance, lung compliance assesses the ease of lung inflation, ventilation effectiveness evaluates the adequacy of gas exchange, and arterial blood gases provide a comprehensive analysis of blood pH, oxygen, and CO2 levels. Each of these assessments uses different tools and methods unrelated to the specific, immediate task of confirming endotracheal tube placement.