Bag-Mask Ventilation during Tracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults

Up to 40% of tracheal intubations are complicated by hypoxemia, which increases patients ’ risks for cardiac arrest and death. Bag-mask ventilation (BVM) is often used to prevent hypoxemia during intubation. This technique however, may increase the patient’s chance of aspiration. The risk of gastric or oropharyngeal aspiration versus the benefit of preventing hypoxemia has been deba ted for over many years and thus the guidelines for oxygenation during tracheal intubation remains controversial.

Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 31, 2019 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Bethany Dalby, Jerrilyn Jones Source Type: research