Effects of Decreasing Peak Flow Rate on Stomach Inflation During Bag-Valve-Mask Ventilation

Achim von Goedecke, Horst G. Wagner-Berger, Karl H. Stadlbauer, Anette C. Krismer, Juliusz Jakubaszko , Christian Bratschke, Volker Wenzel, Christian Keller
Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria and Medical Academy , Wroclaw , Poland
Resuscitation 63 (2004) 131–136

One hundred and ninety-one emergency medicine physicians were requested to ventilate the manikin utilizing a standard single-person technique for 1 min (respiratory rate, 12/min; V t, 500 ml) with both a standard adult bag-valve-mask and the SMART BAG ® . The volunteers were blinded to the experimental design of the model until completion of the experimental protocol. The SMART BAG ® versus standard bag-valve-mask resulted in significantly lower mean airway pressure, respiratory rates, incidence of stomach inflation and median stomach inflation volumes; lung tidal volumes were comparable. Inspiratory to expiratory ratios were significantly increased.

In conclusion, the SMART BAG ® reduced inspiratory flow, mean airway pressure and both the incidence and actual volume of stomach inflation compared with a standard bag-valve-mask device while maintaining delivered lung tidal volumes and increasing the inspiratory to expiratory ratio.