What signifies successful intubation during the procedure?

Successful intubation is signified by the proper placement of the endotracheal tube in the trachea, which is confirmed by specific indicators. One of the most critical indicators is the inflation of the cuff, which creates a seal within the trachea and prevents air from escaping. Additionally, the presence of bilateral breath sounds upon ventilation is essential. This means that when ventilating the patient, breaths can be heard equally on both sides of the chest, indicating that air is indeed being delivered into the lungs rather than the stomach.

This combination of cuff inflation and the detection of bilateral breath sounds confirms that the tube is correctly positioned in the trachea and that effective ventilation is possible. Other options, such as proper placement in the esophagus or immediate stabilization of the patient, do not accurately reflect correct tube placement, while the absence of a gag reflex does not provide reliable feedback regarding the intubation's success.