A BVM Resuscitator (Bag Valve Mask) is a part of the usual equipment for advanced life support patient treatment in medical emergencies. It is a bag which is self-filling with air or additional oxygen (O₂) can be added.

The BVM directs the gas inside it via a one-way valve when compressed by a rescuer; the gas is then delivered through a mask and into the patient's trachea and into the lungs. This technique is regularly necessary in medical emergencies when the patient's breathing is insufficiant or has ceased completely. The BVM Resuscitator is used in order to manually provide mechanical ventilation.

An endotracheal tube (ETT) can be inserted by a trained practitioner and the mask substituted for the ETT. This provides a more secure fit, is easier to manage during emergency transport as the ET Tube is sealed with an inflatable cuff in the Trachea, so that any regurgitation cannot enter the lungs. Such material is very caustic and can severely damage the lung tissue. Inhalation of stomach contents can be fatal and the after effects are known as Mendelsons Syndrome.

In a hospital, however, long-term mechanical ventilation is provided by using more complex devices such as an intensive care ventilator.

Emergency medicine | Prehospital care | Medical equipment

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