Trouble breathing in surgical masks?

[mmmcdowe]

Hey all,

I had a ridiculous time with these things. I feel from the moment that I put them on that I can't get quite enough to breath. In fact, I had to scrub out today because I was starting to lose it after three hours of retracting and trying to breath air out of the side of my mask. I loosened it when I scrubbed back in, but even then it was still uncomfortable.

Any tips?

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[Hextra]

Loosen up the bottom part of the mask. Imagine you're making a tunnel with the mask and your chin, and air should have a nice path into/out of the mask along the underside of your chin.

 

[phantomx87]

Loosen up the bottom part of the mask. Imagine you're making a tunnel with the mask and your chin, and air should have a nice path into/out of the mask along the underside of your chin.

Agreed... Almost passed out the first few times I scrubbed before the junior resident took me aside and showed me. Take a few home with you when you scrub out of your last case for the day and practice with them. You want the bottom of the mask to be loose so that your breath has enough room to escape, but not so much that you look like you don't know how to tie a mask.

I've also found that the duckbill masks work better for me in terms of breathing ability and fogging prevention. The above tip is also essential for preventing fogging.

Another thing often overlooked is how low the metal strip is on your nose... If it's too low (and pinched too tightly), you're going to pinch your nasal passages closed. Try putting the metal strip at the very top of your nose so that the upper strip runs right under your eyes. Up there, you can pretty much pinch as tight as you want for an airtight seal.

Now... If you're using the N95 masks (like for laser work on warts or anything else highly infectious), there's no other option than to just control your breathing as best you can.

 

[bambi]

However much you think you can't breathe don't breathe through your mouth, as soon as you do you get hotter and struggle to breathe even more. Just calm down and try to breathe normally.

 

[phantomx87]

However much you think you can't breathe don't breathe through your mouth, as soon as you do you get hotter and struggle to breathe even more. Just calm down and try to breathe normally.

This... Completely forgot to mention it, but it's probably the most important thing mentioned!

 

[deuce924]

I have the same problem and loosening the bottom of the mask really does help but, like other people said, the most important thing is to stay calm and maintain regular breathing.

 

[theVster]

Do ortho and get one of the giant face shields 😉

 

[Forthegood]

Here is another thought: Next time you put on the mask, place a Xanax inside the back of the mask, and open your mouth as you put the mask on.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Wow, metal pinches in every surgical mask? The ever so elusive ways to make healthcare more pointlessly expensive in the first world I guess.

I'd find using a N95 mask for something simple like take a Pap smear to be slightly too much.
OP, It's just something you'll have to get used to. Once your superiors are on top of you to have everything done, you'll care more about the work than if you're fainting.

That sounds like a good way to faint. I'd rather be the wuss who steps out of scrub and gets yelled at than the guy who passes out on their feet and falls backward with their hands firmly clenched around a retractor. 😀

Thanks for the advice everyone, I will try to fiddle with the mask and ask a resident to check it for me. Good advice on the nose thing, I'm a big mouth breather so I will work on that.

 

[Law2Doc]

Wow, metal pinches in every surgical mask? The ever so elusive ways to make healthcare more pointlessly expensive in the first world I guess.
....

Probably saves money, actually, because if you didn't have the metal, each time a mask slips down to expose the nose, you expose the patient to infection and the doctor to lawsuit. You want the mask to stay up, even in the longest of cases, and even if the doctor has to move around a lot, or if he coughs/sneezes, etc.

 

[blaithnaid]

Try snagging an extra one and take it home and just wear it around for a bit.

Works for breaking in new shoes too. 🙂

I also agree with getting the top part as high as possible, specially if you wear glasses.

 

[GladifImakeit]

Attach a pulse-ox and just don't worry unless your sat drops below 90.

 

[phantomx87]

Attach a pulse-ox and just don't worry unless your sat drops below 90.

Well if we're cheating with attaching contraptions, why not just go with 2L NC? It would seem to me that that would solve all your problems.

 

[lkorovin]

Surgical masks are no problem. It's the N95s you have to worry about.

 

[Tapepsi]

Ha ha. Sorry I'm still premed but I know exactly what you're talking about as I'm shadowing a surgeon and have to wear those suffocating masks. I nearly passed out on the first day. It helps to avoid the mask with the eye shield attached and to just bring your own goggles if that's allowed. Also only breathe through your nose. That suffocating feeling will go away eventually.

 

[MadEvans]

I observed an autopsy and had the most terrible time trying to breathe. I think they used the N95 masks. ALL of the medical students in the room were suffocating. Thanks for all the tips. I'm pretty sure the xanax tip is the only one that would have done any good at all for me though considering the mask I was wearing.

 

[Ischemic]

what about for those of us with glasses... it fogs up my glasses and I cant see anything. Bottom too tight?

 

[phantomx87]

what about for those of us with glasses... it fogs up my glasses and I cant see anything. Bottom too tight?

This is where the high-up-on-the-nose and taping techniques come into play. I always have the metal strip at the top of my nose and running along the bottoms of my eyeballs, and then I'll put the micropore tape right on that (to keep it from slipping). Try and find the masks that have a plastic strip on the inside of the mask, as this will help trap moisture as well.

Like I said before, I always had really good luck with the duckbill masks. Unfortunately, though, you will always face the possibility of fogging up the glasses no matter what you do (whether it's from breathing or your face getting too hot).

 

[radiodoc99]

Tie it such that your leave room between your nose and the mask. Not too tight