Pressure-Regulated-Volume-Controlled Ventilation

Abstract

The advantage of volume-controlled ventilation is the administration of a predetermined breathing volume for safe ventilation. The disadvantages are unknown high ventilation pressures, shear forces and pendulum volume. The advantage of pressure-controlled ventilation is the limitation of ventilation pressures to a predetermined level. The disadvantage is that this can result in different breathing volumes. Both advantages can be combined as pressure-regulated-volume-controlled ventilation. A breath volume is set and the respirator can calculate how high it must independently regulate the ventilation pressure so that the predetermined breath volume can be administered safely. The level of inspiratory pressure can vary from breathing cycle to breathing cycle. The ventilator will automatically, autonomously regulate the inspiratory pressure up or down.

The advantage of pressure-controlled ventilation is that the ventilation pressures are limited to a predetermined level. The disadvantage is that this can lead to different breathing volumes (► Chap. 9). The advantage of volume-controlled ventilation is the administration of a predetermined breathing volume for safe ventilation. The disadvantages, however, are unknown high ventilation pressures, shear forces and pendulum volume (► Chap. 10). Both advantages can be combined in one form of ventilation, pressure-regulated-volume-controlled ventilation.