What could be the issue if a self-inflating bag is easy to squeeze but shows no chest rise after oral intubation?

When a self-inflating bag is easy to squeeze but does not produce any chest rise after oral intubation, a faulty inlet valve could be the underlying issue. The inlet valve is designed to prevent air from escaping back into the bag when it is squeezed, allowing positive pressure ventilation to be efficiently delivered to the patient's lungs.

If the inlet valve is malfunctioning, it may not properly seal, leading to a loss of pressure during bagging attempts. This would render the bag ineffective in delivering a sufficient volume of air to inflate the lungs, which is crucial for successful ventilation and observable chest rise.

In contrast, if the bag were simply too small, it is less likely to be an immediate issue since self-inflating bags generally have designs that accommodate various lung capacities. A detached reservoir would typically still allow some air delivery through the bag, though it may be less effective. Insufficient flow would not directly relate to the performance of a self-inflating bag since these bags are usually able to generate the required positive pressure independently of a supplemental oxygen supply. Therefore, identifying a faulty inlet valve is key to resolving the lack of chest movement during resuscitation efforts.