Ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Ventilation is one of the key steps for managing cardiac arrest patients. Once the airways are controlled, ventilation can be performed manually or mechanically. Manual ventilation, using a bag-valve mask, exposes the patient to a risk of hypoventilation or hyperventilation. It can initially be performed and then followed by mechanical ventilation using a ventilator. The ventilator must be optimally adjusted to enable effective ventilation despite chest compressions, while adhering to international recommendations. Using a dedicated mode can be a simpler alternative that may avoid potential adjustment errors. Recently, it has been shown that effective ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is associated with improved survival. It must be performed appropriately to enhance the prognosis of patients after cardiac arrest.