Ventilator Basics
This is the medical term for the machine- assisted breathing process.
What is mechanical ventilation
This setting controls how many breaths the ventilator delivers each minute.
What is breath rate
This mode delivers full ventilator support with each breath, whether the patient initiates or not.
What is assist control (AC) mode
Ventilator alarms should never be ignored because they can indicate this.
What is a change in patient condition or equipment malfunction
The most important vital sign to monitor oxygen delivery in a ventilated patient.
What is oxygen saturation
This setting controls the amount of air delivered with each breath.
What is Tidal Volume (TV)
This mode allows patients to breathe spontaneously with a present pressure support.
What is pressure support ventilation (PSV)
Listening for breath sounds and checking chest movement are part of this assessment.
What is a respiratory assessment.
The airway device that connects the ventilator to the patient.
What is a tracheostomy tube
This setting determines the oxygen concentration the patient receives.
What is FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen)
This mode delivers a set number of breathes, but the patient can trigger additional breaths.
What is synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation (SIMV)
This alarm will sound when there is an leak in the circuit.
What is a low pressure alarm.
Positioning the patient with the head of the bed elevated reduces the risk of what complication?
What is aspiration or ventilator associated pneumonia.
This setting prevents alveoli from collapsing by keeping a small amount of pressure in the lungs at the end of exhalation.
What is positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
This ventilator mode provides continuous positive airway pressure throughout the respiratory cycle.
What is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
This ventilator number is what triggers a High or Low Pressure Alarm.
What is the peak inspiratory pressure (PIP)
Daily care of the patient's mouth/around the trach tube helps prevent this infection.
What is ventilator associated pneumonia or tracheostomy infections
This setting limits the pressure applied during inspiration to protect the lungs from injury.
What is peak inspiratory pressure (PIP)
This ventilator mode delivers two levels of pressure- a higher one during inhalation and a lower one during exhalation- to assist breathing.
What is bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP)
A sudden increase in peak inspiratory pressure can indicate this common problem in the ventilator circuit.
What is an obstruction: Think blockage, kink, water in the tubing, etc.