Comparison of Three Techniques on Facility of Bag-Mask Ventilation: Thenar Eminence, E-O and E-C.

BACKGROUND: Rapid and secure management of airway is an important lifesaving intervention in critically ill patients at emergency wards. Training undergraduate students about airway management must be regarded as a priority in their education period. The aim of the present study was to compare the quality of three ventilation techniques with a bag and mask among two groups of undergraduate students (Novices) and senior group (Experienced) in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

METHODS: This study was a mannequin type research that was carried out in the faculty of medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The study population consisted of two elementary groups (Novices) and senior group (Experienced). The number of participants included 100 individuals. Ventilation quality by bag and mask in two groups was recorded based on the rise of lungs and two reviewers' opinions who gave a score from 1 as weak to 4 as excellent using three techniques of E-C, E-O, and Thenar Eminence. In the E-C technique, index fingers and thumbs form two "C"s facing each other while the remaining fingers lift the mandible and form two "E"s. In E-O techniques, the web between thumb and index finger is used to form a circle around the neck of the mask while other fingers perform a chin lift. In thenar eminence techniques, the thenar eminence and thumb are placed on the top of the mask while other fingers perform jaw thrust.

RESULTS: In our study, 27% of undergraduate participants and 59% of seniors were male and the others were female. The mean of age of elementary and seniors were 24 and 33.5, respectively (P < 0.05). E-O technique was well done by the novices group.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, it was concluded that the elementary group performed E-O bag and mask ventilation technique appropriately. Therefore, it can be suggested that training of this technique will be placed in educational curriculum of undergraduate students.