Assessing the effectiveness of two neonatal face masks during simulated resuscitation: Study 1
- Fiona E Wood (fewood{at}doctors.org.uk)
Abstract
Background: Positive pressure ventilation (PPV) via a face mask is an important skill taught using mannequins. There have been few attempts to assess the effectiveness of different face mask designs.
Aim: To determine whether leak at the face mask during simulated neonatal resuscitation differed between a new round mask design and the current most widely used model.
Method: Fifty participants gave PPV to a modified mannequin designed to measure leak at the face mask. Leak was calculated from the difference between the inspired and expired tidal volumes.
Results: Mask leak varied widely with no significant difference between devices; mean (SD) percentage leak for the Laerdal round mask was 55% (31) and Fisher & Paykel mask was 57% (25).
Conclusion: We compared a new neonatal face mask with an established design and found no difference in leak. On average the mask leak was >50% irrespective of operator experience or technique.
