Pressure support ventilation

Pressure support ventilation (PSV) is a mode of mechanical ventilation, which is used to assist patients who are in the process of weaning off ventilatory support. It is a patient-triggered, pressure-limited, and flow-cycled mode of ventilation.

Overview

PSV is a form of ventilatory support that provides assistance to the patient's spontaneous breathing efforts. The ventilator delivers a preset level of pressure during inspiration, which is maintained until the patient's inspiratory flow falls below a certain threshold, at which point the ventilator cycles off.

Indications

PSV is typically used in patients who are being weaned from invasive mechanical ventilation. It can also be used in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and other conditions that impair the patient's ability to breathe independently.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of PSV is that it allows the patient to control their own breathing rate and depth, which can reduce the risk of ventilator-associated lung injury (VALI). However, it requires the patient to have a certain level of respiratory muscle strength and can cause patient-ventilator dyssynchrony if not properly managed.

See Also

• Mechanical ventilation
• Invasive mechanical ventilation
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• Ventilator-associated lung injury