Bag Valve Masks
What we are going to look at now is the use
of the bag valve mask to ventilate the patient's lungs, should they be breathing inadequately.
We would always try and use an airway adjunct to enable us to get good ventilation. Typical
bag valve mask has a chamber which holds approximately 1,200 millilitres of air. And this is important
to remember that when we are ventilating a patient, a normal tidal volume is only about
500. An adequate squeeze of the bag would just be to expel half of the amount of air.
And actually, when you are ventilating a patient, try to think about how we breathe normally.
We do not suddenly take a gasp, we breathe gently and exhale slowly. And this, we should
replicate when we are ventilating our patient's lungs. Failure to ventilate in a similar way
to how we breathe would result in the epiglottis potentially closing and diverting air down
into the stomach. And when the stomach is full, it will empty and the contents will
come up into the patient's mouth causing us further problems. Always try and replicate
the way that we breathe when ventilating a patient. The mask should have an adequate amount of
air in so that it will form a seal around the patient's face. And a really good technique
for achieving a seal, first time every time, is to hold your finger and thumb in a "C"
shape over the mask, like so, keeping these three fingers free. And then, this part, the
pointy part of the mask, goes over the bridge of the nose and then roll the mask down onto
the patient's face, securing it with those three fingers over the hard bone of the mandible.
Tilt the head back and we should... And a normal respiratory rate or ventilatory rate
for an adult would be approximately once every five or six seconds... And we can see a rise
and fall of the chest there, which confirms air is going in and out of the lungs.
Using the Bag Valve Mask for Effective Ventilation
Introduction
Ensuring Adequate Ventilation with the Bag Valve Mask
Optimal Ventilation Technique
Key Steps for Effective Ventilation
- Airway Adjuncts: Employing airway adjuncts to facilitate proper ventilation.
- Bag Valve Mask Capacity: Understanding that the mask's chamber holds approximately 1,200 millilitres of air.
- Controlled Ventilation: Emulating natural breathing patterns with gentle inhalation and slow exhalation.
- Preventing Epiglottis Closure: Ventilating in a manner that avoids epiglottis closure, which can redirect air into the stomach.
- Sealing the Mask: Using a "C" shape hand technique to achieve a secure seal around the patient's face.
- Proper Mask Placement: Placing the mask over the bridge of the nose and securing it with fingers over the mandible's hard bone.
Ventilation Procedure
Executing Ventilation for Optimal Results
- Head Position: Tilt the patient's head back to ensure a clear airway.
- Respiratory Rate: Maintain a normal respiratory rate for adults, typically once every five or six seconds.
- Monitoring Chest Movement: Observe the chest for rising and falling, confirming effective lung ventilation.
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