You have intubated a patient and are obtaining a capnogram that indicates that there is no carbon dioxide present. With this information, you know that:

a. The endotracheal tube is correctly placed due to the lack of exhaled carbon dioxide
b. You are hyperventilating the patient and should reduce the amount of ventilations per minute until the carbon dioxide levels come up
c. The endotracheal tube is incorrectly placed in the esophagus and the patient should be extubated immediately
d. The endotracheal tube is placed in the right mainstem bronchus and should be carefully withdrawn

c
Rationale: a. When properly placed, patient's exhalation through an endotracheal tube will produce levels of carbon dioxide.
b. Hyperventilation will remove excessive levels of CO2.
c. Correct.
d. This would still produce levels of exhaled CO2.