The myth of 100% oxygen delivery through manual resuscitation bags.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the actual oxygen delivery of the manual resuscitation bags (MRBs) hanging at the bedsides of patients receiving mechanical ventilation.


METHODS
Descriptive study of 24 MRBs in use at the patient's bedside from six adult ICUs at a 1100-bed Mid-Atlantic medical center.


METHODS
MRBs were Puritan Manual Resuscitators with reservoir. Oxygen concentration delivered was measured with a Ventronic Oxygen Analyzer Model 5575. Oxygen flow to the MRB was recorded before collecting data and then set at 15 L/min. The MRBs were compressed three times, with a 5-second interval between compressions.


RESULTS
Oxygen flow before data collection varied from 6 L/min to 15 L/min. Measurements taken at the exit port before MRB compression ranged from 23% to 97%. Oxygen concentration ranged from 26% to 95%, with a mean of 59%. The oxygen values for each compression time were significantly lower than 100% (p < 0.001). The first compression values differed significantly from the second compression (p < 0.001) and the second differed from the third compression (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
MRBs are not delivering the level of oxygen nurses have assumed. In addition, variation in oxygen delivery occurs from compression to compression.
Corley
M
M
Ledwidge
M K
MK
Glass
C
C
Grap
M J
MJ
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
D010100:Oxygen