Face mask resuscitation: does it lead to gastric distension?
Inflation and oesophageal pressures were recorded simultaneously during bag and mask resuscitation of 9 asphyxiated babies. After half a minute of standard inflation pressures, higher pressures were applied for at least 5 inflations by occluding the blow-off valve. No air entered the oesophagus until a high mean inflation pressure of 5.4 kPa was exceeded. These findings were confirmed in 4 fresh stillborn babies studied similarly. We conclude that resuscitation using bag and mask, applying pressures less than 3.5 kPa, should not lead to gastric distension.
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000628:therapy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D013271:Gastric Dilatation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008397:Masks; D011312:Pressure; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods