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Ideas That Work
HOLD OFF ON THE AMBU BAG
Quick Fix When Oxygen Saturation Drops
Here's a tip for anesthesia providers working in an office-based setting without an anesthesia machine. During a MAC/IV sedation procedure, if the oxygen saturation drops to a level where you'd consider reaching for the Ambu bag, instead turn the O2 flow rate of the nasal cannula up to 10-12 liters, close the mouth, tip the chin up and then gently close the nostrils over the cannula for about 3-5 seconds, and then release the nose. You should see the chest rise. Do this 3-4 times, and your O2 saturation should go up almost immediately. This will keep you from embarrassing yourself by having to bring out the Ambu bag.
Stephen D. Smith, CRNA, MA
Atlanta, Ga.
slldt@comcast.net
TURN UP THE FLOW RATE When a patient's oxygen saturation drops, completely seal the nostrils over the nasal cannula.
