This document discusses modes of mechanical ventilation. It begins by stating the aims and objectives, which are to demonstrate essential knowledge of caring for patients requiring ventilation. It then discusses indications for ventilation including respiratory failure and neurological or pulmonary impairment. Common modes are also summarized, including volume-targeted modes like volume control ventilation and pressure-targeted modes like pressure support. Mandatory modes like IPPV are described along with assisted modes like SIMV. Spontaneous modes are also discussed briefly. Finally, potential complications of invasive ventilation are listed.

1. Modes of
Ventilation

2.  To be able to demonstrate essential
knowledge of the care and management of
the patient requiring mechanical ventilation
Aims

3.  Explore the indications and contra-indications
 Overview of the modes of ventilation
 Be familiar with normal parameters of
ventilation
 Discuss the indications for weaning and
extubation
Objectives

4.  Respiratory Failure
 Cardiopulmonary arrest
 Trauma Events
 Cardiovascular impairment
 Neurological impairment
 Pulmonary impairment
 Procedures requiring sedation/paralysis
Indications

5. Goals
 Treat hypoxemia/hypercapnia
 Relieve respiratory distress/reverse
fatigue
 Decrease Myocardial O2 demand
 Prevention or reversal of atelectasis
 Breath for the sedated/paralysed
patient
 Stabilise the chest wall

6.  Risks outweigh benefits, for example
Neutropenia
 Non-invasive deemed preferable to invasive
ventilation
 Invasive ventilation considered medically futile
 Contrary to the expressed wishes of the patient
Contra-Indications

7. Ventilation

8. A machine that generates a controlled
flow of blended air and oxygen into a
patient’s airway.
Ventilators

9. Two categories Volume or Pressure
This refers to the mode of breath delivery
rather than the mode itself
Ventilation

10. In volume category modes of ventilation the machine
generates flow to achieve a set volume known as
TIDAL VOLUME
Volume

11. Tidal Volume
VT
Definition –
‘the volume of air that
is inspired or expired
in a single breath
during regular
breathing’

12. Volume Modes
Advantages
Guaranteed Minute
Ventilation (Mv).
Disadvantages
Increased monitoring
of airway pressures.
Airway pressures will
increase if lung
compliance decreases.
Risk of barotrauma.

13. Minute Ventilation
MV
Definition –
‘the total volume of gas
in litres expelled from
the lungs per minute’

14. In pressure modes of ventilation a pressure limit is set,
the machine generates flow until the peak pressure
limit is achieved-
PAP or PIP
Peak Airway
(inspiratory) Pressures
Pressure

15. Peak Airway (Inspiratory)
Pressures
Pip
Pap
Ppeak
Definition –
‘is the highest level of
pressure applied to the
lungs during inhalation
expressed in cmh2o’

16. Pressure Modes
Advantages
Greater control of
airway pressure.
Less risk of
barotrauma.
Disadvantages
No guaranteed minute
ventilation.
Increased monitoring of
VT required.
Rapid changes in the
compliance can cause
hypoventilation/hypoxia.

17. FLOW TRIGGER - a breath is generated when the patient’s
respiratory effort causes flow to reach a set level.
PRESSURE TRIGGER - a breath is generated by measuring
pressure and starting assisted ventilation when pressure
reaches a given level.
TIME TRIGGER - a breath is generated by measuring
frequency of respirations and starting ventilation when
respirations frequency is at a given.
Inspiration

18.  TIME CYCLED - such in in pressure controlled ventilation
 FLOW CYCLED - such as in pressure support
 VOLUME CYCLED - the ventilator cycles to expiration once a
set tidal volume has been delivered: this occurs in volume
controlled ventilation.
Expiration

19. Mandatory Modes of
Ventilation

20. Intermittent Positive Pressure
Ventilation
IPPV

21. IPPV
 Set: TV, rate, Fi02, PEEP,
 No capacity for the patient
to trigger a breath
 Uncomfortable if patient
not fully sedated &/
paralysed
 Suitable only for patients
who have no ability to
breathe spontaneously

22. Mandatory Assist Modes of
Ventilation

23. SIMV
Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation

24.  Provides a set TIDAL VOLUME at a set RATE (F)
 Patient can breathe in-between mandatory
ventilation
 Spontaneous breaths are supported with pressure
support
 Ventilator synchronises mandatory breaths and
spontaneous breaths for increased patient comfort
NB
Usually volume targeted but some machines offer SIMV(pc)
SIMV

26. SIMV
Advantages
 Guaranteed Minute
Ventilation
Disadvantages
 Increased monitoring of
airway pressures.
 Airway pressures will
increase if lung
compliance decreases.
 Risk of barotrauma.

28. Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure
BiPAP

29.  Provides a set P-insp at a set RATE (F)
 Patient can breathe in-between mandatory ventilation
 Spontaneous breaths are supported with pressure
support
 Pt can breathe at any point of respiratory cycle, not just
between breaths
 Breathing takes between two levels Pinsp and PEEP
BiPAP

31. BiPAP
Advantages
Increased patient comfort
Can limit high airway
pressures
Reduce risk of barotrauma
Disadvantages
No guaranteed Minute
Ventilation
Increased monitoring of Tidal
Volumes
Patient may hypo-ventilate
and become hypoxic if lung
compliance changes
suddenly

33. Spontaneous Modes of
Ventilation

34. Spontaneous Modes of
Ventilation
Spontaneous modes
are-
Triggered
Cycled
-By the patient

35. The patient triggers the ventilator and receives a
supported breath at a pre-set pressure.
This helps overcome the increased work of breathing
or resistance of breathing through an endotracheal
tube.
Pressure Support or ASB

37. Complications of invasive ventilation
 Airway:
 Aspiration pneumonia
 Trauma to trachea during
intubation
 Hypoxia prior to / during
intubation
 Laryngeal oedema
 Occlusion of blood supply to
trachea (if cuff pressures to
high)
 Sinus infection

38. Complications of invasive ventilation
 Mechanical:
 Ventilator malfunction.
 Ventilator circuit: occlusion,
kinks, bronchospasm,
disconnection & biting.
 Barotrauma / Volutrauma
can rupture alveoli, causing
pneumothorax.

39. Complications of invasive ventilation
 Decreased cardiac output:
 Induction agents
 Changes intrathoracic
pressure & reduces venous
return
 Cardiac output falls, BP
drops
 CVP and LV preload rise
 This has implications for the
perfusion of all vital organs:
brain, kidneys, GI tract

40. Complications

41. PEEP
 Maintains pressure within
the breathing circuit at a
pre-set level at the end of
expiration
 When used during
spontaneous respiration it is
called CPAP
 A degree of PEEP should
be applied on all ventilation
modes to minimise risk of
atelectasis

42. Other settings to consider:

43. Inspiration time : Expiration time
 I:E ratio is 1:2
 Can be reversed – 1:1 or less:
2:1
 Some machines automatically
alter I:E ratios when the set
resp rate is altered.

44. Reversing the I:E Ratio
Disadvantages
Air trapping from
increased
intrathoracic
pressure
Hypercarbia ( Î C02)
Breath stacking
Extreme discomfort
for the pt
Reduction in cardiac
return
Advantages
Advantages or
reversing the I:E ratio:
Alveolar recruitment
Reduced alveolar
collapse due to shorter
expiratory times
Increased mean airway
pressure without
increasing PAP