Air entry in infant resuscitation: oral or nasal routes?

The current recommendation for resuscitation of infants is to blow air into both the nose and mouth. We have observed that mothers cannot cover both the nose and mouth of their infants. We compared postmortem tracheal and esophageal air entry by using the nose, combined nose and mouth, and mouth routes in eight infants. Air entry into the trachea occurred at lower pressures (P < 0.05) via a nose mask than via a combined nose and mouth mask or via a mouth mask. Air entry into the trachea occurred at lower pressures (P < 0.05) via the nose route in the neutral and extended neck positions compared with the flexed position. We were unable to demonstrate an effect of the route of air entry on esophageal air entry. The findings indicate that the nasal route of air entry is more effective than the combined nose and mouth or mouth routes and that neck flexion impedes air entry. We recommend that parents are taught to blow air into their infants' noses if the infant stops breathing.