Comparison of ventilation performance: standard resuscitation bag and the resuscitation bag controller

Clinical evaluation of ventilation performance during resuscitation is largely subjective. A mechanical device, the resuscitation bag controller (RC), which encircles the bag and allows controlled compression may improve the precision and accuracy of ventilation with manual resuscitation bags (MRB). We hypothesize that more precise, controlled pressure ventilation can be delivered with the RC, compared to the MRB. Prehospital (N = 13) and hospital personnel (N = 12) who routinely perform manual ventilation were randomized to either method of ventilation. Operators were instructed to ventilate an intubated adult mannequin. The percent of breaths delivered within a specified range, 800 to 1200 mL, was compared using simple regression analysis. The precision of tidal volume (TV) and peak airway pressure (PAP) was compared between methods and groups using the coefficient of variation. Comparison for significant differences between methods and groups in the number of breaths with a TV less than 800 mL and those with pressures greater than 30 cm H20 was performed using chi square or Fisher's exact test. There were no significant differences in the percent of acceptable breaths or mean TV delivered between methods or groups. The precision (i.e., reproducibility of the same value) of TV for both methods was best for hospital personnel. PAPS were less than or equal to 30 cm H2O for 93% of all breaths. Hospital personnel delivered a significantly greater percent of inadequate (less than 0.8 L) breaths, 19 versus 7.4%, and excessive pressure breaths, 9.2 versus 4.2%, when compared to prehospital personnel. We conclude that the resuscitation bag controller offers little advantage over standard bag resuscitation for adult resuscitation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)