 No single method for confirming tracheal tube placement has been shown to be 100 % reliable . Accordingly , the use of multiple methods for confirmation of correct tube placement is now widely considered to be the standard of care . Such methods include direct visualization as the tip of the tube passes through the glottis , or indirect visualization of the tracheal tube within the trachea using a device such as a bronchoscope . With a properly positioned tracheal tube , equal bilateral breath sounds will be heard upon listening to the chest with a stethoscope , and no sound upon listening to the area over the stomach . Equal bilateral rise and fall of the chest wall will be evident with ventilatory excursions . A small amount of water vapor will also be evident within the lumen of the tube with each exhalation and there will be no gastric contents in the tracheal tube at any time . 
