title: Comparison of face masks in the bag-mask ventilation of a manikin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a study investigating the effectiveness of four face mask designs in the bag-mask ventilation of a special manikin adapted to simulate a difficult airway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight anaesthetists volunteered to bag-mask ventilate the manikin for 3 min with four different face masks. The primary outcome of the study was to calculate mean percentage leak from the face masks over 3 min. Anaesthetists were also asked to rate the face masks using a visual analogue score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The single-use scented intersurgical face mask had the lowest mean leak (20%). This was significantly lower than the mean leak from the single-use, cushioned 7,000 series Air Safety Ltd. face mask (24%) and the reusable silicone Laerdal face mask (27%) but not significantly lower than the mean leak from the reusable anatomical intersurgical face mask (23%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a large variation in both performance and satisfaction between anaesthetists with each design. This highlights the importance of having a variety of face masks available for emergency use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Redfern
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rassam
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stacey
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mecklenburgh
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D008397:Masks; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*