Method and apparatus for ventilation/oxygenation during guided insertion of an endotracheal tube

A method for resuscitating a patient and guiding insertion of an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea comprising the steps of:

• placing a face mask over a patient's mouth, said face mask having a removable guide extending posteriorly from the face mask allowing insertion of an endotracheal tube through the face mask and along the guide into the patient's mouth and hypopharynx, said face mask further having a ventilation port allowing a flow of air/oxygen into the face mask;
• connecting a resuscitation attachment to the ventilation port to create a filtered flow pat for a flow of air/oxygen into the face mask;
• resuscitating the patient by supplying a flow of air/oxygen from a health care provider through the resuscitation attachment and face mask;
• inserting a fiber optic probe through an endotracheal tube;
• advancing the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube along the guide into the patient's trachea while resuscitation continues;
• removing the fiber optic probe from the endotracheal tube;
• removing the face mask while leaving the endotracheal tube in place within the patient's trachea;
• and
• ventilating the patient through the endotracheal tube.

An apparatus for simultaneously resuscitating a patient and guiding insertion of an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea, said apparatus comprising:

• a face mask to cover a patient's mouth, said face mask having a face mask port;
• a rotatable ventilation collar surrounding said face mask port having a ventilation port for receiving a flow of air/oxygen to resuscitate the patient that can be rotated about said face mask port, said ventilation collar directing said flow from said ventilation port into said face mask;
• a resuscitation attachment removably connected to said ventilation port providing a flow path enabling a health care provider to supply a flow of air/oxygen through said ventilation port to resuscitate the patient, said flow path further including a filter reducing the exchange of contaminants between the patient and the health care provider;
• and
• a guide removably extending through said face mask port having a distal portion for insertion into a patient's mouth and hypopharynx;
• said guide directing insertion of an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea while resuscitation continues via the resuscitation attachment and ventilation port.