Final answer:
Proper bag-mask ventilation for a patient with an airway obstruction involves creating an airtight seal with the mask, using techniques to open the airway, synchronizing breaths with the patient's efforts if they are breathing, and monitoring chest rise and oxygen saturation levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient with an airway obstruction can be properly ventilated using bag-mask ventilation by ensuring the mask fits well over the face to create an airtight seal. For effective ventilation, the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver is often used to open the airway. The bag is then squeezed to deliver air to the patient's lungs, taking care not to overinflate to prevent gastric distension, which can lead to vomiting and aspiration. It's crucial that the person performing the ventilation synchronizes the breaths with the patient's own respiratory efforts if they are breathing spontaneously and that they monitor the patient's chest rise and oxygen saturation levels to ensure adequate ventilation. Intubation may be necessary if bag-mask ventilation is not effective or if the obstruction cannot be relieved quickly.