PRE-OXYGENATION USING FACE MASK OR MOUTHPIECE WITH AND WITHOUT NOSE CLIP - PATIENT PREFERENCES AND EFFICACY

We assessed the effectiveness of mouthpieces for oxygenation before in duction of anaesthesia. In part 1 of the study we asked 52 day case pa tients whether they would prefer mask, mouthpiece, or mouthpiece with nose clip, and which they would be willing to use. In part 2 we pre-ox ygenated 18 volunteers using each of the three methods in a crossover study. We measured time to 90% end tidal oxygen concentration (F-E'O2) , or maximum F-E'O2 after 3 min if less than 90%. Of the patients surv eyed, 20 (39%) preferred mask, 23 (44%) mouthpiece, one mouthpiece wit h nose clip and mine (17%) expressed no preference. Only 88% would be willing to use the face mask, but all would accept either the face mas k or the mouthpiece with nose clip. In part 2 of the study, the mouthp iece alone proved significantly worse than the mask or mouthpiece with nose clip. The latter two did not differ significantly. Offering the alternative of mouthpiece with nose clip would increase patient accept ance of effective pre-oxygenation.