What is the appropriate oxygen flow rate when ventilating a patient with a bag-valve mask (BVM)?

When using a bag-valve mask (BVM) to ventilate a patient, the oxygen flow rate should generally be set to at least 15 liters per minute. This flow rate is effective in ensuring that the BVM delivers a high concentration of oxygen to the patient. At this rate, it allows for sufficient oxygen to be delivered to the reservoir bag, ensuring that the bag can fill adequately and provide effective positive pressure ventilation during each breath.

Setting the flow rate at 15 liters per minute also helps to avoid the risk of the oxygen supply running out quickly and ensures that the patient receives an adequate volume of oxygen with each ventilation cycle. Higher flow rates, such as 20 liters per minute, may be unnecessary and could risk wasting oxygen without providing additional benefit, as the BVM is designed to provide supplemental oxygen efficiently at around 15 liters per minute.

Maintaining the correct flow rate is crucial for effective ventilation, as proper oxygenation is vital for patient outcomes in emergencies, making the choice of 15 liters per minute an important standard in emergency medical practice.