rescue breathing
Assisted positive-pressure ventilation delivered manually to a patient who has ceased or inadequately reduced their own respiratory effort, representing a critical intervention in dental sedation emergencies.
Full Definition
Rescue breathing (also called assisted ventilation or positive-pressure ventilation) is initiated when a sedated dental patient develops apnoea or critically inadequate respiratory effort that is unresponsive to stimulation or airway manoeuvres. It may be delivered via a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device and constitutes an essential component of the dental anesthesiologist's emergency management skill set. Editors reviewing patient safety protocols, informed consent documents, and emergency procedures must distinguish 'rescue breathing' from 'supplemental oxygen' (passive delivery) and from 'intubation' (secured airway). 'Rescue breathing' is two words and is hyphenated only when used as a compound modifier (e.g., 'rescue-breathing technique').
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate only as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., 'rescue-breathing protocol'). Do not conflate with supplemental oxygen delivery, which is passive and does not support respiratory effort. In regulatory documents, 'positive-pressure ventilation' may be the preferred technical term.
In Context
- "Rescue breathing was initiated using a bag-valve-mask when the patient became apnoeic following propofol bolus administration." — Sedation emergency incident report
- "All dental anesthesiology assistants must be trained in rescue breathing as part of the annual competency assessment." — Staff training policy document