Mechanical Ventilation Clinical Guide
PulmonaryGuide
8 articles
This clinical guide will show you how to start your patients on mechanical ventilation, optimize the settings once they’re on it, and wean them when it’s no longer necessary. Many clinicians are nervous to adjust ventilators, but it’s really not that complicated with the right training. Whether you’re new to ventilation or want to brush up your skills in fine-tuning the ventilator, you’ll discover clinical pearls to help your patients to survive, recover, and thrive.
This clinical guide will show you how to start your patients on mechanical ventilation, optimize the settings once they’re on it, and wean them when it’s no longer necessary. Many clinicians are nervous to adjust ventilators, but it’s really not that complicated with the right training. Whether you’re new to ventilation or want to brush up your skills in fine-tuning the ventilator, you’ll discover clinical pearls to help your patients to survive, recover, and thrive.
Editors:Shelley Jacobs, PhD
Peer reviewers:Franz Wiesbauer, MD MPH Internist
Last update 14th Jan 2021
Chapter 1
How to survive your first night on call
The articles in this chapter are designed to give you the tools you need to help you survive your first night with a patient on a mechanical ventilator. You’ll discover the what and why of mechanical ventilation, initial settings and modifications, and how to modify your initial settings to make sure that the patient is receiving adequate support.
So, what is a mechanical ventilator, and when is it needed?
Learn the reasons you would want to place a patient on mechanical ventilation in this short article.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 19th Dec 2020 • 3m read
Assist-control (AC) and synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) modes
Now that we have established the need for a mechanical ventilator let's discuss which initial mode should be selected.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 4th Jan 2021 • 4m read
Volume versus pressure control
As we covered in a previous article, the assist-control (AC) mode is the most common primary initial ventilator mode used throughout the world.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 4th Jan 2021 • 4m read
What are the initial settings for assist-control (AC) volume control ventilation?
Click here to learn about the ventilation mode values to set when placing a patient on a mechanical ventilator.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 7th Jan 2021 • 5m read
Modifying ventilator settings based on arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) levels
Learn how to set ventilator settings based on arterial carbon dioxide levels.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 14th Jan 2021 • 3m read
Modifying ventilator settings based on arterial oxygen (PaO2) levels
Learn how to modify mechanical ventilation settings based on PaO2 for adequate oxygenation in your patients.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 4th Jan 2021 • 2m read
Modifying ventilator settings based on pressure readings
Learn how to modify ventilation settings based on PIP and plateau pressures for adequate oxygenation.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 19th Dec 2020 • 3m read
Case study: Initial settings and initial modifications
Check out this patient case study to learn about the initial settings and modifications for mechanical ventilation.
by Josh Cosa, MA RRT-ACCS RRT-NPS RCP • Last update 19th Dec 2020 • 3m read
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Highly commended by the British Medical Association
Awarded in the “digital” category of the BMA Book Awards - London 2017
