Final answer:
If visible chest rise does not occur during PPV, assess for airway obstructions and perform the Heimlich maneuver if needed, and reevaluate lung compliance issues. Continue with high-quality chest compressions while ensuring CPR breaths are effective in expanding the chest and lowering intrapleural pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you are performing pocket mask ventilation (PPV) and no longer observe a visible chest rise, you must immediately assess the situation and take corrective action. This typically includes ensuring the airway is clear, which could involve performing the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge any obstruction if an aspiration event is suspected. The absence of chest rise suggests that the air is not entering the lungs efficiently, which could result from a blocked airway or a problem with lung compliance.
In a case where lung compliance is compromised, such as in spontaneous pneumothorax or pneumonia, where the lung might be filled with mucus, increasing the risk of lung collapse or impeding normal expansion, immediate medical attention is needed. When providing CPR, high-quality chest compressions are crucial, and if breaths are given, they must be effective enough to expand the chest wall outward and drop the intrapleural pressure to draw air into the airways. However, in situations where artificial respiration is not effective, the emphasis should turn back to performing excellent chest compressions.