14 Facts About Mechanical ventilation

Mechanical ventilation, assisted ventilation or intermittent mandatory ventilation, is the medical term for using a machine called a ventilator to fully or partially provide artificial ventilation.

Mechanical ventilation helps move air into and out of the lungs, with the main goal of helping the delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide.

Mechanical ventilation is used for many reasons, including to protect the airway due to mechanical or neurologic cause, to ensure adequate oxygenation, or to remove excess carbon dioxide from the lungs.

Mechanical ventilation is termed invasive if it involves an instrument to create an airway that is placed inside the trachea.

Two main types of mechanical ventilation include positive pressure ventilation where air is pushed into the lungs through the airways, and negative pressure ventilation where air is pulled into the lungs.

Mechanical ventilation is indicated when a patient's spontaneous breathing is inadequate to maintain life.

Mechanical ventilation is often a life-saving intervention, but carries potential complications.

In many healthcare systems, prolonged Mechanical ventilation as part of intensive care is a limited resource.

Mechanical ventilation is often associated with many painful procedures and the ventilation itself can be uncomfortable.

People who require mechanical ventilation should have their ventilation considered for withdrawal if they are able to support their own ventilation and oxygenation, and this should be assessed continuously.

Alveolar Mechanical ventilation is the amount of gas per unit of time that reaches the alveoli and becomes involved in gas exchange.

Mechanical ventilation utilizes several separate systems for ventilation referred to as the mode.

Monitoring a patient in mechanical ventilation has many clinical applications: Enhance understanding of pathophysiology, aid with diagnosis, guide patient management, avoid complications, and assess trends.

Mechanical ventilation ventilators are ventilators not requiring operator effort and are typically computer-controlled or pneumatic-controlled.