Final answer:
Mouth-to-mouth ventilation ensures proper breathing after the airway is opened. Endotracheal intubation is used during surgical procedures under general anesthesia to maintain an open airway. Emergency intubation may be required in cases of an obstructed airway to allow breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the airway is opened, to ensure proper mouth-to-mouth ventilation, one should use the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver to keep the airway open, then pinch the nose shut, take a normal breath, and seal your lips around the person's mouth. Blow into the person's mouth for about one second, ensuring that the chest rises. Give two breaths and then proceed to carry out chest compressions if necessary. It is essential to avoid over-ventilation during the process. If available, use a barrier device to minimize direct contact.
During medical procedures where the patient is under general anesthesia, a method called endotracheal intubation is often used to maintain an open airway and prevent complications such as tongue relaxation blocking the air passage. This involves placing a tube into the trachea. Once the patient starts regaining muscle function post-surgery, the tube is removed.
In a pre-hospital emergency where intubation might be necessary due to an obstruction, medical personnel may perform intubation so that air can bypass the obstructed area and reach the lungs. In some cases, a bag valve mask (BVM) is used to manually deliver the necessary breaths to the patient, generating sufficient pressure to inflate the lungs.