Mechanical ventilator

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In medicine, a mechanical ventilators are "devices used to produce or assist pulmonary ventilation."[1] Mechanical ventilators may be used in surgery that is performed under general anesthesia or in critical care medicine for patients with respiratory insufficiency from causes such as acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Modes of mechanical ventilation include:

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), better outcomes may occur with:

  • Low tidal volume: 8 mL/kg of body weight or less
  • Higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP): such as plateau pressures not exceeding 40 cm H2O (mean positive end-expiratory pressure of 15 cmn H2O)[2] or plateau pressure of 28 to 30 cm H2O[3]

Weaning mechanicl ventilation

Details for weaning from mechanical ventilation are available.[4] Example criteria are if the PaO2:FIO2 ratio was greater than 150 mm Hg and FIO2 was no greater than 0.6.[3]


References