Detection of carbon dioxide in expired air after oesophageal intubation; the role of bystander mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

BACKGROUND

The identification of a correctly placed tube during anaesthesia routinely depends on the detection of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the expired air.

RESULTS

We describe a previously unreported cause of false-positive prediction in two patients with high initial values of CO2 in expired air after oesophageal intubation. Both patients had received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation with mouth-to-mouth ventilation, and the CO2 from the rescuers' expired air was trapped and subsequently detected after oesophageal intubation.