This document provides information about bag valve masks (BVM), including: - What a BVM is and its components - Its history of being discovered in 1953 by a German engineer and anesthesiologist - Its uses in respiratory failure, arrest, ventilator failure, and patient transfers - Potential complications if not used properly like gastric insufflation and lung injuries - Tips for its proper use including ensuring a seal and using two rescuers when possible

1. Ms. SARITHA MOHAN, BSN, MBA
NURSING EDUCATION UNIT
AL MANA GENERAL HOSPITAL
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
BAG VALVE MASK
(Bvm)

2.  AMBU Bag
 Manual Resuscitator
 Self inflating bag

3. Artificial Manual Breathing Unit
Air Mask Bag Unit

4.  Adult, Pedia & Infant

5. A hand held device commonly used to provide
positive pressure ventilation to patients who
are not breathing or not breathing
adequately.
Using ambu bag to ventilate the patient is
called “ Bagging”.

6. Discovered in the year of 1953 by Dr. Holger
Hessee ( a German Engineer) & his partner Mr.
Henning Ruben ( Anesthestist).
The word “AMBU“ came from “ Ambulance ”

7.  Respiratory Failure
 Respiratory Arrest
 In case of Ventilator failure
 Transfer of critical patients between wards.
 In between suctions

8.  Paralysis
 Complete upper Airway Obstruction

9.  OPA
 NPA

10. 1. Non-rebreathing patient valve
2. Intake valve
3. Compressible self refilling ventilation
bag
4. Nipple for oxygen tubing
5. Oxygen reservoir bag
6. Oxygen reservoir
7. Ambu mask
8. Oxygen extension tubing

11. it is not recommended to use the AMBU bags
when you are a single rescuer because it is
difficult for a single rescuer to hold the mask
and squeeze the bag at a time, as mouth &
nose should be completely sealed by mask
during bagging. If 2 rescuers there, one can
hold the mask while the other can squeeze
the bag.

12. •BVM not connected to Oxygen
& reservoir (Room Air)21%
•BVM connected to Oxygen
source of 5-10L40-60%
•BVM with reservoir & 15L of
oxygen connection100%

13.  Gastric Insuflation (Vomiting, Aspiration)
 Barotrauma (lung injury from over
pressurization)
 Volutrauma (lung injury from overstretching)
 Mendelson’s Syndrome
 Hypoventilatiion

14.  Observe for chest rise
 Saturation level
 Improving from cyanosis