Before continuing, consider which observations may alert you to inadequate ventilation:

• Patient observation
• Monitoring devices

Before continuing, consider which observations may alert you to inadequate ventilation:

• Patient observation:
  • Apnoea or abnormal respiratory pattern
  • Abnormalities on auscultation
  • Difficulty with manual ventilation
  • Cyanosis (a late sign)
• Monitoring devices

Before continuing, consider which observations may alert you to inadequate ventilation:

• Patient observation
• Monitoring devices:
  • Absent or abnormal capnograph trace
  • Low minute volume/disconnect alarm
  • High/low airway pressure
  • High/low respiratory rate
  • Low arterial oxygen saturations

Although some of these features (high airway pressures, low oxygen saturation) may be seen with pre-existing lung disease, a more acute problem should always be considered by the anaesthetist.