Cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene are forms of source control encouraged to prevent the spread of respiratory infection. The use of surgical masks as a means of source control has not been quantified in terms of reducing exposure to others. We designed an in vitro model using various facepieces to assess their contribution to exposure reduction when worn at the infectious source (Source) ...

BACKGROUND Potentially infected individuals ('source') are sometimes encouraged to use face masks to reduce exposure of their infectious aerosols to others ('receiver'). To improve compliance with Respiratory Source Control via face mask and therefore reduce receiver exposure, a mask should be comfortable and effective. We tested a novel face mask designed to improve breathability and filtratio...

We evaluate the outward and inward protection efficiencies of different mask types (N95, surgical two cloth designs) taking into account imperfect fit on wearer. To this end, we built a manikin to simulate exhaling, coughing inhaling aerosol droplets 0.3–5.0μm in diameters. The depend many factors, including droplet size, presence filter layer. Here, show that masks with non-woven layer can ach...

BACKGROUND Mass casualty situations impose special difficulties in airway management, even for experienced caregivers. The laryngeal mask airway is part of the difficult airway algorithm. The authors evaluated the success rate and the time to secure airways by mask by anesthetists, surgeons, and novices when wearing either surgical attire or full antichemical protective gear that included butyl...

Inhalation or intravenous anesthesia along with controlled or assisted mask ventilation is frequently used for interventions with short duration in pediatric patients, especially in surgical centers with high turnover and when laryngeal mask airways do not fit. To achieve one-handed mask ventilation the anesthesiologist has to stand behind the head, and the mask is held with one hand against th...

BACKGROUND Modern operating rooms are considered to be aseptic environments. The use of surgical mask, frequent air exchanges, and architectural barriers are used to reduce airborne microbial populations. Breaks in surgical technique, host contamination, or hematogenous seeding are suggested as causal factors in these infections. This study implicates contamination of the operating room air as ...

BACKGROUND Up-to-date studies are needed on the protection provided by face masks used by dentists. We assessed the relative filtering efficacy of two currently used surgical face masks (one a molded mask, the other a tie-on mask) and a certified personal particulate respirator, all made by a single manufacturer. METHODS The authors sprayed bicarbonate particulate against a porcelain surface ...

Airway management difficulties continue to be problematic to the anaesthesiologists as it is the major cause for anaesthesia related morbidity and mortality. Difficult airway includes difficult intubation (DI), difficult mask ventilation (DMV) or both. Most of the anaesthesiologists concentrate on predicting difficult intubation, but give very little attention to difficult mask ventilation. Unp...