Predicting Difficult Mask Ventilation

In previous studies, patient attributes that predict difficult tracheal intubation were identified, but no research has addressed difficult mask ventilation (DMV). These authors in France assessed 1502 patients for 10 potential markers of DMV and correlated the findings with actual mask ventilation difficulty during elective anesthesia.

Actual ventilation difficulty was defined as inability to maintain oxygen saturation above 92%, significant mask-face leak, need for oxygen flow greater than 15 L/min, absence of chest movement, need for 2-handed mask seal, or need to change operator. By univariate and multivariate analyses, 5 attributes independently predicted DMV: presence of a beard, body-mass index greater than 26 kg/m², history of regula…