VE = VT x f

FOUR BASIC FUNCTIONS

OF A
MECHANICAL VENTILATOR

By: Raymond Santos, BSRT

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What is a Mechanical Ventilator?

An automatic mechanical device

designed to provide all or part of
the work the body must produce
to move gas into and out of the
lungs.

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What is a Mechanical Ventilator?

The mechanical ventilator is

a machine that ventilates the
lungs.

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VENTILATORS

vs.

RESPIRATORS
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VE = VT x f

C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator

C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator

Mechanical ventilators
are machines.

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Mechanical Ventilator
- A machine is defined as a system
of related elements designed to
alter, transmit and direct applied
energy in a predetermined manner
to perform useful work.

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Mechanical Ventilator
1. Drive Mechanism - Gas Powered
- Electrical
2. Control Scheme - Control Circuit
- Variables
- Modes
3. Output - Volume
- Pressure
- Flow
4. Alarm Systems - Input/Output
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- Control Circuit
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator

A tool used to perform

a certain task.

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Mechanical Ventilator
- A device that provides fresh air.

- Performs the process of ventilation.

- Moves air in and out.

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Mechanical Ventilator

Its primary purpose is to

provide the patient with
the right volume of fresh
air in the lungs.
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Mechanical Ventilator
Whether manual or mechanical,
a ventilator must perform
4 Basic Functions.
1. Start lung inflation
2. Inflate the lungs
3. Stop lung inflation
4. Allow the lungs to empty
C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
1. Start lung inflation
What starts lung inflation
or
What initiates inspiration?
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
2. Inflate the lungs

What maintains inflation

or inspiration?

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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
3. Stop lung inflation

What stops lung inflation

or what terminates
inspiration?
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
4. Allow the lungs to
empty
What happens during
emptying or what happens
during expiration? C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
Attempting to answer these
questions would certainly
give the Respiratory Care
Practitioner hints on the
capabilities of a particular
mechanical ventilator. C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator

The answers could even

describe the different
modes available that the
RCP can use in ventilating
the patient.
C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
1. What starts lung inflation or
what initiates inspiration?

A: Trigger Mechanism
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Mechanical Ventilator
Trigger Mechanism
- Patient ( Assist/IPPB)
- Machine (Control/CMV)
- Both (Assist/Control)
- Clinician (Manual)
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
Trigger Mechanism
- Pressure
- Flow
- Volume
- Time
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
2. What maintains inflation or
inspiration?

A: Limiting Mechanism
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Mechanical Ventilator
Limiting Mechanism

- Pressure (Pressure-Limited/PCV)
- Volume (Volume-Limited)
- Flow (Flow-Limited)
C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
3. What stops lung inflation
or what terminates
inspiration?

A: Cycling Mechanism
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
Cycling Mechanism
- Pressure (Pressure-Cycled)
- Volume (Volume-Cycled)
- Flow (Flow-Cycled)
- Time (Time-Cycled)
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
4. What happens during
emptying or what happens
during expiration?

A: Expiratory Adjuncts
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 VE = VT x f
Mechanical Ventilator
Expiratory Adjuncts
- ZEEP
- NEEP
- PEEP/CPAP/APRV
- Expiratory Resistance
- Inspiratory Hold C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Breath Cycle

start maintain stop empty

INSPIRATION EXPIRATION

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 VE = VT x f
Breath Cycle
start maintain stop

TRIGGER LIMIT CYCLE

machine or patient

C = V
VOLUME/PRESSURE/FLOW/TIME
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 VE = VT x f
Breath Cycle
start maintain stop

TRIGGER LIMIT CYCLE

machine or patient

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MANDATORY/ASSISTED OR SUPPORTED/SPONTANEOUS
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 VE = VT x f
Breath Type
TRIGGER LIMIT CYCLE

1. MACHINE-CYCLED
BREATHS

Mandatory Breath M M M

Assisted Breath P M M

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 VE = VT x f
Breath Type
TRIGGER LIMIT CYCLE

2. PATIENT-CYCLED
BREATHS

Supported Breath P M P

Spontaneous Breath P P P

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Mode
Breath types given or allowed

or

How a ventilator, ventilates a patient

C = V
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 VE = VT x f
Mode

Volume Ventilation

or

Pressure Ventilation

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 VE = VT x f

To begin understanding how a

mechanical ventilator works,
the RCP must start by knowing
that it is a machine.

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 VE = VT x f

And like any machine, the

mechanical ventilator has
a purpose – to ventilate.

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 VE = VT x f

“The RCP
Provides Care
By giving
Inspiration”
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 REFERENCES VE = VT x f
1. McPherson S.P.: Respiratory Care
Equipment, ed 5, 1995, St. Louis, Mosby
2. Scanlan et al: Egan’s Fundamentals of
Respiratory Care, ed. 6, 1995, St. Louis, Mosby
3. Barnes T. A.: Core Textbook of Respiratory
Care Practice, ed 2, 1994, St. Louis, Mosby
4. Dupois Y.G.: Ventilator “Theory and Clinical
Application”, ed. 2, St. Louis, Mosby
5. Kirby R. R.et al: Clinical Applications of
Ventilatory Support, revised edition, 1990,
New York, Churchill Livingstone
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6. Chang D. W.: Clinical Application of Mechanical
Ventilation, 1997, New York, Delmar Publishers P