1. The patient is being ventilated with 2 types of breaths.
The patient is being ventilated with 2 types of breaths. In the breaths with the higher peak pressure, higher peak flow, and larger tidal volume, the flow returns to zero half way into mechanical inspiration. The patient has stopped inspiration but the ventilator is continuing to deliver pressure. Pressure equilibration has been reached (arrows A) and no further flow is delivered. This patient is being ventilated with synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation and pressure support. The PEEP is 10 cm H2O. The mandatory breaths (arrows A) are pressure-control breaths (28 cm H2O delivered for 1.70 s), resulting in a peak pressure of 38 cm H2O. The pressure-support breaths (10 cm H2O) have a cycling sensitivity that can be computed graphically: the flow ceases when it is a quarter of the peak flow, indicating that the cycling sensitivity is 25%. The PEEP is 10 cm H2O. The patient is ventilated with synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation and pressure support.
Marjolein de Wit Respir Care 2011;56:61-72
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