Acute Respiratory Failure in the Adult

Abstract

Effect of Mechanical Ventilation and Airway Pressures on Circulation and Blood Gas ExchangeThe ventilatory pattern is defined by: the inspiratory and expiratory flow rates and pressures, including plateaus (periods of zero flow at end-inspiration or expiration); tidal volume; duration of inspiration and expiration; and frequency and magnitude of hyperinflations. The optimal pattern for artificial ventilation varies from patient to patient according to the nature of the underlying disease. Ventilators must therefore provide means for altering ventilatory patterns over a wide range, features now incorporated in most volume preset ventilators. Although the need for adequate carbon dioxide removal must be . . .