Basic Modes of Mechanical Ventilation

Learning objectives

The ventilator strategy, including the choice of modes, is dependent on the clinician’s experiences and availability of ventilator technologies in addition to multiple patient factors.  Therefore, the goal of this presentation is to introduce the concepts without being prescriptive to the strategy. After completing this course, the student will:

• Better understand the goals of mechanical ventilation.
• Differentiate spontaneous and mechanical breaths.
• Define inspiratory trigger and cycle.
• Define primary variables and breath sequencing.
• Identify five basic modes of mechanical ventilation.
• Explain the basics of ventilator targeting schemes.