Mastering Airway Management Tools : ACLS Course Chapter 4

The head tilt–chin lift is the best method for opening the airway.

1. Place your hand on the patient’s forehead.
2. Apply pressure with the palm of your hand and that will tilt the head back.
3. Put the fingertips of your other hand under the chin and lift the chin with your fingertips until the mouth is open.
   

Bag-Mask Ventilation:  This device has a ventilation bag attached to a face mask and provides positive pressure ventilation of 500-600 mL tidal volume.

1. Perform head tilt–chin lift to open the airway while holding the mask against the face.
2. Circle the thumb and first finger around the top of the mask forming a “C” while using the third, fourth, and fifth finger to lift the jaw (forming a “E”).
   

Advanced Airway Tools and Techniques

There are many different devices used for advanced airway access and their use depends upon the training of the individual administrating the technique.

1. Laryngeal mask airway
2. Laryngeal tube
3. Esophageal-tracheal tube
4. Endotracheal tube
   
   
   

Learning Outcomes:

You have completed Course IV. Now you should be able to:

1. Recognize the different airway devices
   1. Bag-Mask Ventilation
   2. Advanced airway
2. Understand the techniques in opening the airwayL