Which of the following is a key step to confirm placement of a supraglottic airway device?

• A. Verify chest rise
• B. Ensure proper insertion, verify chest rise, listen for bilateral breath sounds and use capnography/EtCO2 waveform if available
• C. Rely on patient speech
• D. Check blood pressure

Answer: (B)

Confirming placement of a supraglottic airway is about proving ventilation is actually reaching the lungs. The best way is to ensure the device was inserted correctly and then look for three corroborating signs: chest movement with ventilation, audible breath sounds over both lungs, and, if available, a capnography or EtCO2 waveform.

Chest rise shows air is being pushed into the lungs, but that alone isn’t proof of proper placement. Hearing bilateral breath sounds helps verify that air is entering both lungs rather than going somewhere else. Capnography provides objective evidence that exhaled CO2 is present, indicating the airway is effectively ventilating the patient. If capnography isn’t available, you still rely on the combination of good seal with chest rise and bilateral breath sounds to assess placement.

Relying on patient speech isn’t reliable, especially if the patient is unconscious or unable to speak, and checking blood pressure doesn’t inform you about airway position or ventilation status.