If you encounter resistance while attempting to ventilate an unresponsive apneic patient and do not see chest rise, what is your next step?

When attempting to ventilate an unresponsive apneic patient and encountering resistance without seeing chest rise, repositioning the airway and reattempting to ventilate is a critical step. This action addresses potential obstructions or positional issues. The most common reasons for inadequate ventilation are improper airway position, which could lead to blocked airways or ineffective seal around the bag-mask device.

Repositioning the airway often involves techniques such as the head-tilt-chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver, both of which can help open the airway more effectively. By ensuring that the airway is in the optimal position, you increase the chances of achieving effective ventilation.

Other actions such as reassessing the pulse or calling for help, while important in other contexts, would not directly resolve the immediate issue of ventilation and chest rise. Initiating chest compressions could be warranted if a pulse is not present, but since the goal in this scenario is to ventilate effectively, repositioning the airway is the most appropriate next step.