Using a facemask during anaesthesia

Download – Facemask anaesthesia (Update 2011)

Effective and safe use of the anaesthetic facemask is a core skill of the anaesthetist. It is used less for maintenance of anaesthesia in well resourced countries, having been largely superseded by the laryngeal mask airway (LMA). In resource poor settings drug and equipment availability have limited use of the LMA and so the choice for airway management in general anaesthesia remains facemask or endotracheal tube. This article outlines the roles of facemasks in anaesthesia and provides advice on overcoming pitfalls in their everyday use.

Nicholas Boyd and Anna Negus