Bag valve mask

The resuscitator is a device for manual ventilation of patients with respiratory failure or incompetent (not sufficient ) breathing. It consists of a hollow body, which has to be compressed to the ventilator, and a valve with a standardized extension to the breathing mask or a tube.

Among the best known manufacturers, the company Ambu A / S, hence the term Ambu bag counts.

Application

For ventilation of the breathing bag is connected to either a face mask that is retained to the C- handle or via an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy tube with the patient and the bag is compressed. Now, the air contained in the hollow body passes through the patient valve to the patient's lungs. After the bag is expanded, it is filled through the inlet valve again automatically with air, which air exhaled by the patient through the patient valve to escape to the environment. It is a semi- open breathing system that allows both spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation. The resuscitator is dependent a relatively simple tool for the ventilation and not on technical energy sources. Therefore, it is used in emergency situations and during transport of ventilated patients. For the purposes of redundancy he is one spare device anywhere there is available, where patients are ventilated mechanically.

Anaesthesia bag and masks are manufactured in various sizes and shapes, so that they can be used in infants, children and adults. With a product of the medical device manufacturer Weinmann it is possible to vary by turning the ventilator bag and use a so-called " pediatric grip " the tidal volume. So only one bag is needed for adults and children.

In order to protect the valve from dirt and germs, a breathing filter (HME ) filter can be used, which is inserted between the mask or tube and the patient valve. However, in this case the so-called dead space is increased by about 45-95 ml, which can be compensated by lower ventilation.

For non-medical professionals and persons without routine mechanical ventilation exist airway devices that are easier to use.

Accessories

As a respiratory emergency should occur with a high content of oxygen, you can connect almost all Resuscitator with an oxygen source. An additional reservoir or bag, a demand valve enabling ventilation with an oxygen content of 85 to 100%. Most resuscitators also allow the PEEP. Either that required for this valve is to be installed or can be plugged onto the Expirationsschenkel the patient valve. It means that after the expiration phase, a positive pressure on the airways utilized. The PEEP can improve oxygenation. However, when you mask ventilation increases the risk of gastric insufflation with regurgitation and subsequent aspiration. Especially resuscitator in children's sizes often have a safety valve to prevent ventilation with excessive pressure. Some bags in civil protection units have adapters for breathing filter, so that can be a ventilation with ambient air in toxic atmosphere.

Disposable and reusable systems

There are now a variety of " one-off " resuscitators are available which are disposed of after use on a patient. The common resuscitator of the various manufacturers are usually thought of for the multiple application and therefore can be disinfected, sterilized or autoclaved, so that the hygiene is also taken into account in these models.

Others

For resuscitator also the synonyms Ambu bag or Ruben bags are used. The most famous manufacturer of the bags is the Danish company Ambu A / S, founded in 1937 by the German engineer Holger Hesse. With this along the Danish anesthetist Henning Ruben developed the first resuscitator. A strike Danish truck drivers, the hospitals of the supply section with necessary material was 1954 Ruben the trigger for the construction of the first self-expanding resuscitator. The assembled first with the help of bicycle spokes device became the prototype of what the American Medical Association in 1964, known as one of the most important advances in anesthesia of the last 25 years.