JEMS Presents: From Bagging to Performance: Ventilation That Actually Matters
Ventilation in cardiac arrest remains one of the most fundamental—and most poorly measured—skills in prehospital care. Despite its critical impact on coronary perfusion, cerebral blood flow, and overall resuscitation success, providers rarely have real-time insight into what they are actually delivering.
This panel brings together clinical and operational leaders to examine the role of ventilation during cardiac arrest, focusing on tidal volume, rate control, and the balance between effective oxygenation and the risks of over-ventilation. Panelists will explore the limitations of traditional bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation, the role of mechanical ventilators in arrest, and the growing emphasis on measurement-driven performance.
Grounded in physiology and real-world application, this discussion challenges long-held assumptions and reframes ventilation as a critical intervention that must be measured, managed, and mastered.
