You are aggressively ventilating an adult patient with a bag-valve mask when you notice that his previously strong pulse is getting weaker.You should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Weaker pulse during bag-valve mask ventilation may indicate that the patient is receiving too much volume or pressure, which can cause decreased cardiac output. Therefore, reducing the volume of ventilations may help to improve cardiac output and maintain a better pulse. It is important to maintain oxygenation, however, reducing the oxygen concentration should not be the priority in this situation. Chest compressions should be started if the patient shows signs of cardiac arrest (e.g. absent pulse, unresponsiveness, no breathing).

You Are Aggressively Ventilating an Adult Patient with a Bag-Valve