3 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The Tao Mask is a new novel facemask for positive pressure ventilation which has recently been demonstrated (MUSC study Pro00047645) to have superior performance to our conventional (standard) positive pressure mask in a random distribution of patients with experiences users. This additional study will extend our investigation of the new masks capabilities by studying it's performance in the morbidly obese - which are more challenging patients to ventilate by mask. Our hypothesis is that the Tao mask will be even more effective in this challenging population than in the random distribution of patients.
Positive pressure ventilation can be life saving for patients who are hypoxic, hypercapneic or apneic. Manual ventilation with a facemask is a skill that is routinely required for emergency medical technicians, respiratory therapists, nurses and physicians. Although mask ventilation skills are routinely taught, even the most skilled and experienced anesthesiologists struggle to effectively mask-ventilate. The effective use of a standard mask requires the simultaneous establishment of a seal between the mask and face and the lifting of the jaw. The preferred grip is referred to as the C\&E technique. The C\&E technique requires the index finger and thumb to form a "C" and push down on the mask to establish a seal between the mask and face. The lateral three fingers form the "E" and wrap under the jaw to provide lift. The grip required to establish the seal and jaw lift simultaneously is awkward and difficult to teach. The basic design of the standard facemask has not changed in approximately 100 years. This study will evaluate a new mask design, Warters Mask, is based on a novel design that allows a far more ergonomic grip. The C\&E technique is replaced by a more natural grip. With the Warters Mask, downward pressure with the palm of the hand centered on the mask provides the seal between the face and the mask. The other four fingers align under the jaw to provide lift.
Recently, the investigators demonstrated that nasal route ventilation is superior to the nasal-oral combined ventilation in the absence of jaw thrust and chin up maneuvers. The investigators hypothesize nasal mask ventilation may reduce the incidence of difficult mask ventilation during the induction of general anesthesia by: 1) producing a better seal than full face mask, and 2)establishing a greater airway patency and more effectively ventilate than full face mask ventilation. The investigators intend to test this hypothesis on adult patients during the induction of general anesthesia in the absence of muscle relaxation.