Mechanical Ventilation






			Mechanical Ventilation in Critical Care Introduction What is a mechanical ventilator? How are mechanical ventilators classified? Why are there so many different ways to ventilate a patient? What is the difference between PEEP and CPAP? What do I need to know about volume-controlled ventilators? What is volume assist-control ventilation? What is (synchronized) intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV / SIMV)? What is the difference between constant, decelerating and sinusoidal flow waveforms? How do I set the peak flow (PF)? What is pressure controlled ventilation (PCV)? What is Pressure Support and How does it work? What is the Plateau Pressure? What causes dysynchrony? Why do some physicians say that you should not mix volume with pressure? What is the difference between Inverse Ratio Ventilation (IRV) and Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (ARPV), Bilevel and Proportional Assist Ventilation? How do I analyze ventilator waveforms? Ventilation Strategy in Critical Care How do I set PEEP? SIMV & Pressure Support Volume Assist Control Pressure Assist Control Pressure Support Ventilation Airway Pressure Release Ventilation Beware of auto-PEEP in pressure control ventilation Beware of tachypnea with small tidal volumes
			This section by Patrick Neligan MD (University of Pennsylvania)