In this week’s episode, Keith and Courtney discuss the long-awaited Podcast on ventilation across 2 parts, with this one focused on manual ventilation.

During everyday anaesthesia, we may find ourselves needing to give our patients intermittent or regular positive pressure breaths to support their ventilation, for example, during long anaesthesia or due to thoracic surgery.

Although closing the exhaust valve on the breathing system and squeezing the reservoir bag seems very straightforward, there are many factors to consider in regards to patient safety – what is the pressure we are delivering, is the tidal volume known and is this breathing system suitable?

They discuss safe intrathoracic pressures to deliver these manual breaths and how to utilise equipment such as in-circuit manometers, IPPV button valves and how to use each breathing system correctly (even if you have been told the Lack is not suitable for IPPV!).