56 - 60 Physics SBAs for the Primary FRCA
Question 56
You are revising for your exam, and your irritatingly keen registrar has drawn this image for you.
Which breathing system is this?
- Mapleson A
- Mapleson B
- Mapleson C
- Mapleson D
- Mapleson E
Answer
- Mapleson B
This is a Mapleson B system, which you can remember as 'both' the APL and fresh gas flow are at the patient end, rather than the bag end.
It's a terrible system, don't use it, just learn it for the exam.
Each of the Mapleson breathing systems has:
- A fresh gas flow inlet
- A patient interface (mask or ET tube attachment)
- Corrugated tubing
- APL valve*
- Reservoir bag*
*Except for the Mapleson E and F circuits
The different names and performances seen between the different systems arises as a result of the variations of configurations of these components.
Check out the image at the bottom of the post for what each of the systems look like.