Bag valve mask ventilation

Overview

• Simple, life-saving skill that is critical in airway management
• Deliver oxygen at positive pressure via a bag containing oxygen connected to a mask placed over a patient's nose and mouth
• Oxygenation and ventilation prior to definitive airway placement or bridge to sedative metabolization

Indications

• Respiratory failure
• Pre-oxygenation
• Emergent need to oxygenate/ventilate

Contraindications

No absolute contraindications

Difficult BVM (MOANS)

• Mask seal
• Obesity
• Aged
• No teeth
• Stiffness (resistance to ventilation)

Equipment Needed

• Bag connected to oxygen at 15L/min
• Mask connected to the bag
• Consider PEEP valve (provides PEEP between ventilations)
• OPA/NPA/adjuncts to facilitate successful BVM ventilation
• Suction
• SpO2 monitor helpful

Children

• Proper-sized mask (covers nose and chin)
• Proper bag (enough to see chest rise)

Procedure

"EC" Hand Position

• Thumb and index finger holding mask in a "C" position
  • Thumb superior and index inferior
• 3rd, 4th, 5th finger hold the mandible and perform a jaw thrust
• Other hand used to bag

2-person

• One person holds the mask with both hands (lateral edges)
• 2nd person bags

Rate

• Adult bag at 10-12/min
• Children 16-20/min
• Infants 30/min
• Neonates 40-60/min

Tidal Volume

• Avoid hyperinflation
• Bag until chest rise is seen

Complications

• Poor seal
  • Remove dentures to intubate; keep them in to bag/mask ventilate
  • For a beard can smear lube to help create better seal
• Poor oxygenation/ventilation
  • Readjust head-tilt-chin-lift or jaw thrust
  • Utilize oropharyngeal airway/nasopharyngeal airway
• Overinflation of the stomach causing emesis/aspiration

See Also

• Intubation
• Oropharyngeal airway

References

Authors

Ross Donaldson