For a 28 year old female patient with a history of asthma who has stopped breathing, what is the most appropriate ventilation rate to initiate with a bag valve mask?

In the case of a 28-year-old female patient with a history of asthma who has stopped breathing, initiating positive pressure ventilation with a bag valve mask requires careful consideration of the appropriate ventilation rate. The correct rate of 20 breaths per minute aligns with the standard guidelines for adults who are not breathing effectively.

When providing ventilations to a non-breathing adult, the general recommendation is to deliver breaths at a rate of about 10 to 20 breaths per minute. At 20 breaths per minute, this equates to one breath every three seconds, effectively ensuring that the patient receives adequate ventilation without excessive pressure, which could lead to complications such as barotrauma or decreased venous return due to high intrathoracic pressure.

This ventilation rate helps maintain adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal while allowing enough time for the chest to rise and fall adequately for each ventilatory attempt. It is critical to monitor the patient closely, adjusting the rate and volume of ventilations as necessary based on the patient’s response.