What is a major risk of performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation too forcefully?

Performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation too forcefully can lead to gastric inflation and subsequent regurgitation. When breaths are delivered with excessive force, air can enter the stomach instead of the lungs. This situation can occur because the esophagus can inadvertently be filled with air, causing the stomach to inflate.

If enough air enters the stomach, it may increase the risk of the patient regurgitating their stomach contents. Regurgitation can pose a significant hazard during resuscitation, as it obstructs the airway and can lead to aspiration, further complicating the resuscitation efforts and potentially causing serious respiratory complications.

Maintaining a gentle but effective pressure during the rescue breaths is essential to ensure that the air is directed into the lungs rather than the gastrointestinal tract. This understanding highlights the importance of using correct technique in resuscitation, ensuring that ventilations are adequate without forcing the air, thus minimizing the risk of unwanted complications like gastric inflation.