What are the potential drawbacks of mask ventilation that should be considered?

Mask ventilation can be associated with various burdens (reduced patient autonomy, increased nursing workload, a sensation of a foreign object caused by the breathing mask, and hospitalization for mask fitting or cough assistance).

The patient weighs the potential or actual burdens of ventilatory therapy against its benefits. If the burdens outweigh the achievable benefits, forgoing ventilatory support is justified and possible (withholding ventilatory therapy). In this case, medications can be used to alleviate respiratory distress or airway constriction. The management of distressing symptoms through appropriate medications is referred to as “palliative care.”