Which component acts as a reservoir of gas and is used for manual ventilation?

Which component acts as a reservoir of gas and is used for manual ventilation?

• A. Reservoir Bag
• B. Vaporizers
• C. Flowmeters
• D. O2 Flush Valve

Answer: (A)

The reservoir bag is the flexible gas reservoir in the breathing circuit, and it is used for manual ventilation. It stores gas between breaths, so you have a ready supply to deliver a breath by squeezing the bag. When you compress it, you push gas into the airway to ventilate the patient; when you release, the bag re-expands as gas returns through the circuit. This bag also serves as a visual and tactile aid to gauge ventilation and detect problems like leaks or disconnections. Typical adult bags are about 2 liters, with smaller sizes for children. Vaporizers are where the anesthetic agent is turned into vapor to mix with the carrier gas, not a gas storage reservoir. Flowmeters regulate the rate of gas flow, not the storage of gas. The O2 flush valve delivers a high flow of oxygen directly to the circuit, bypassing the vaporizers, and does not serve as a reservoir.

The reservoir bag is the flexible gas reservoir in the breathing circuit, and it is used for manual ventilation. It stores gas between breaths, so you have a ready supply to deliver a breath by squeezing the bag. When you compress it, you push gas into the airway to ventilate the patient; when you release, the bag re-expands as gas returns through the circuit. This bag also serves as a visual and tactile aid to gauge ventilation and detect problems like leaks or disconnections. Typical adult bags are about 2 liters, with smaller sizes for children.

Vaporizers are where the anesthetic agent is turned into vapor to mix with the carrier gas, not a gas storage reservoir. Flowmeters regulate the rate of gas flow, not the storage of gas. The O2 flush valve delivers a high flow of oxygen directly to the circuit, bypassing the vaporizers, and does not serve as a reservoir.