Mechanical ventilation

Mechanical Ventilation is a method to assist or replace spontaneous breathing. This can be a life-saving intervention, but can also cause complications and side effects. Mechanical ventilation is often used in intensive care units, home care, and emergency medicine.

Indications

Mechanical ventilation is indicated when the patient's spontaneous breathing is inadequate to maintain life. It can also be used to sedate the patient for a short period of time, such as during the operation of a ventilator, or during recovery from a critical illness. The main indications for mechanical ventilation are:

• Acute lung injury including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Neuromuscular disease or weakness
• Drug overdose
• Anesthesia
• Sedation
• Coma

Modes

There are two main modes of mechanical ventilation: Positive Pressure Ventilation and Negative Pressure Ventilation.

Complications

Complications of mechanical ventilation are mainly related to the method of ventilation and the duration of ventilation. They include:

• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)
• Barotrauma
• Oxygen toxicity
• Right ventricular failure
• Pulmonary embolism
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

Weaning

Weaning is the process of gradually reducing the degree of mechanical ventilation and allowing the patient to resume spontaneous breathing. This can be a complex process and is usually managed by a team of healthcare professionals.

See also

• Intensive care medicine
• Pulmonology
• Respiratory therapy

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