Respiratory Failure and Respiratory Support

Abstract

The main reasons for instituting mechanical ventilation are to decrease the work of breathing, support gas exchange, and buy time for other interventions to reverse or treat the cause of respiratory failure. Although mechanical ventilation is essential for life support in ICU, it is associated with some complications that adversely affect patient outcomes. Providing adequate mechanical ventilation and minimizing ventilator-associated complications requires the ICU physician to be familiar with (1) the basic principles of respiratory physiology related to mechanical ventilation and (2) the main functional features of positive pressure ventilators. In this chapter, we aim to provide the fundamental knowledge required to handle/use a ventilator. We will cover tasks from initiating and maintaining mechanical ventilation in different pathological conditions to weaning patients from mechanical ventilation.