What is mask ventilation?

If the respiratory muscles are weak and breathing capacity is reduced (hypoventilation), the respiratory deficit can be compensated for by a breathing aid known as “mask ventilation”. With this form of breathing aid, the patient wears a breathing mask over the nose (nasal mask), mouth (mouth mask) or over the nose and mouth (full face mask). The mask is attached to the head with wider elastic bands. The respiratory mask is connected to a ventilator via a breathing tube, which compresses regular air (without oxygen enrichment) and transports it into the lungs with positive pressure via the tube and the respiratory mask. This “positive pressure ventilation” can relieve the weakened respiratory muscles.

Mask ventilation is usually used overnight. Especially in the lying position, breathing is more difficult for the human body, so that relief through mask ventilation is particularly effective in this phase. Studies on the medical benefits of mask ventilation in ALS have shown a positive effect on quality of life and survival if mask ventilation is used for at least eight hours a day. Therefore, mask ventilation should be used for the entire duration of the night’s rest. In individual cases, the additional use of mask ventilation during the day is also possible.

In principle, mask ventilation should be used for as long as possible in order to effectively relieve the respiratory muscles for several hours. Respiratory weakness should be regarded as overstraining and overloading the respiratory muscles. In this situation, mask ventilation offers several hours of relief and the opportunity for the overstrained respiratory muscles to recover.