Ideas That Work: How to Pre-Oxygenate Claustrophobic Patients

FEELING CONFINED Let claustrophobic patients hold the round connector on the anesthesia circuit in their mouths until they fall asleep.

How to Pre-Oxygenate Claustrophobic Patients

For the claustrophobic patient who gets anxious having a face mask placed over him, remove the mask and have him place his lips around the round connector on the anesthesia circuit. Patients find this much more comfortable while they're pre-oxygenating. As soon as the patient falls asleep, simply reattach the face mask so induction can proceed as normal.

Richard O'Leary, MD
Liberty Anesthesia
San Jose, Calif.
[email protected]