• G J Noordergraaf, P J van Dun, B P Kramer, M P Schors, H P Hornman, W de Jong, and A Noordergraaf.
• St. Elisabeth Hospital, Department of Anaesthesiology, Tilburg, The Netherlands. g.noordergraaf@elisabeth.nl
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2004 May 1;21(5):367-72.

Background And ObjectiveTo evaluate the capability of first responders to achieve and maintain normal ventilation of the lungs of victims employing a bag-valve device and two oxygen-driven resuscitators.MethodsProspective, controlled, blinded, single-centre clinical trial using a bag-valve device and one of two FR-300 devices, with 20 cmH2O working pressure, and flows of either 24 or 30 L min(-1). One hundred and four patients were analysed. Induction of anaesthesia followed by ventilation of the lungs with a bag-valve device and an Oxylator in manual and automatic modes performed by a fireman first responder. Each series was repeated for three conditions (anaesthesia; anaesthesia plus muscle relaxation, both with facemask; anaesthesia plus relaxation using an endotracheal tube).ResultsPatients age 49 +/- 17 yr; 47% males, 48-132 kg. Normocapnia was achieved and maintained in 66% (bag-valve device), 82% (Oxylator).ConclusionsThe use of an oxygen-driven device improves the ability of first responders to achieve and maintain normocapnia even when distracted. Use of the Oxylators improves performance (P < 0.001) vs. the bag-valve device significantly.

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