1. Mechanical Ventilation: Cruise Control for the Lungs
By Diane Byrum, RN, CCNS, CCRN, MSN, FCCM, and Cherri Crabtree, RRT, RCP
Nursing made Incredibly Easy!
September/October 2009
2.5 ANCC contact hours
Online:
© 2009 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All world rights reserved.

2. Respiratory Failure
Hypoxemic respiratory failure: Decreased PaO2; most common cause for mechanical ventilation, including:
• Pneumothorax
• Atelectasis
• Pulmonary edema
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• early ARDS
• smoke inhalation
Hypercapnic respiratory failure: Decreased PaO2 and normal or increased PaCO2, including:
• acute COPD exacerbation
• head trauma
• spinal cord injury

3. Other Conditions Requiring Mechanical Ventilation
Bradypnea or apnea with respiratory arrest
Acute lung injury
Tachypnea (respiratory rate of greater than 30 breaths/minute)
Clinical deterioration for another condition unrelated to the lungs
Respiratory muscle fatigue
Coma
Hypotension
Neuromuscular disease
Airway protection in patients with altered mental status or in clinical conditions in which the risk of pulmonary complications or respiratory failure is high

4. Indications for Mechanical Ventilation
PaO2 less than 50 mm Hg with FiO2 greater than 0.60
PaO2 greater than 50 mm Hg with pH less than 7.25
Vital capacity less than two times the tidal volume
Negative inspiratory force less than 25 cm H2O
Respiratory rate greater than 35 breaths/ minute

5. Endotracheal Intubation
An ET tube is necessary
Cuff pressure should be the lowest possible pressure to allow delivery of adequate tidal volume and prevent pulmonary aspiration; usually, at less than 25 mm Hg to prevent injury and at more than 15 mm Hg to prevent aspiration
Monitor cuff pressure at least every 8 hours by attaching a pressure gauge monitoring device or using a minimal occlusion volume technique
After the ET tube is in place, mechanical ventilation is initiated

6. Mechanics of Mechanical Ventilation
The mechanical ventilator rate is defined as breaths delivered to the patient per minute; the initial rate is set to provide the needed ventilation to achieve a normal PaCO2 value.
Tidal volume is defined as the volume of gas exchanged during each ventilated breath, or the volume of air exhaled per minute; in mechanically ventilated patients, the tidal volume value depends on the patient’s lung condition and ideal body weight
Minute ventilation is calculated by multiplying the ventilator rate by the tidal volume

7. Mechanics of Mechanical Ventilation
PEEP is the pressure remaining in the lungs at end expiration; used to maintain the patency of the alveoli
FiO2 is the fraction of inspired oxygen (always expressed as a decimal, not a percentage)
The P/F ratio is obtained by dividing the PaO2 by the FiO2; a normal P/F ratio is greater than 300, a value of less than 200 indicates refractory hypoxemia
The initial ventilator rate will be adjusted based on the patient’s response, his ABG values, and the P/F ratio

8. Ventilator Modes 101
PSV mode delivers a set pressure that’s held during the entire inspiration while decreasing the patient’s work of breathing; patient must be spontaneously breathing
AC mode delivers a set volume with each patient-triggered breath, as well as the set mechanical rate
SIMV mode delivers a set number of breaths and tidal volume while allowing the patient to take spontaneous breaths with a patient-determined tidal volume and rate
PC mode delivers a pressure-limited breath at a set rate; the tidal volume is determined by the set pressure limit
Dual-control mode delivers a set tidal as a pressure-limited breath until the desired tidal volume is achieved

9. Initial Ventilator Settings
Set the machine to deliver the tidal volume required.
Adjust the machine to deliver the lowest concentration of oxygen to maintain normal PaO2.
Record PIP.
Set the mode, rate, PEEP, and pressure support as ordered.
Adjust sensitivity so that the patient can trigger the ventilator with a minimal effort.

10. Initial Ventilator Settings
Record minute volume and obtain ABG values to measure PaCO2, pH, and PaO2 after 20 minutes of continuous mechanical ventilation.
Adjust the setting (FiO2 and rate) according to the results of ABG analysis to provide normal values or those set by the healthcare provider.
If the patient suddenly becomes confused or agitated or begins bucking the ventilator for some unexplained reason, assess for hypoxia and manually ventilate on 100% oxygen with a bag-valve mask.

11. Hazards of the Road
Barotrauma—injury or damage to the lung tissue that can lead to entry of air into the pleural space (pneumothorax) or the tracking of air along the vascular bundle to the mediastinum (pneumomediastinum); high tidal volumes and peak plateau pressures are risk factors
Volutrauma—damage to the lungs caused by too large a volume, leading to a syndrome of symptoms similar to ARDS
Decreased cardiac output and BP— increased pressure in the lungs leads to increased pressure surrounding the heart and major vessels, which leads to decreasing blood return to the heart, decreased cardiac output, and eventually decreased BP

12. Hazards of the Road
Oxygen toxicity—a combination of increased high levels of oxygen and prolonged use causing an inflammatory-like response in the lungs similar to ARDS; use the lowest FiO2 setting that accomplishes the needed oxygenation to prevent
Ventilator-associated pneumonia—as evidenced by new or changing pulmonary infiltrate on the chest X-ray in conjunction with fever, leukocytosis, and a change in the color and amount of secretions
Fluid retention, stress-related erosive syndrome, and increased ICP may also occur

13. Ventilator Alarms
High PIP—increased airway pressure or decreased lung compliance, most often caused by secretions, coughing, or patient intolerance of the ventilator; always assess breath sounds for increased consolidation, wheezing, bronchospasm, or the possibility of a pneumothorax and check to see if the patient is biting on the tube, if the tubing is kinked, or if the tubing contains increased condensation
Low minute ventilation—if the patient is on control mode, check for a disconnection or leak in the circuit; if he’s being weaned off the ventilator, assess for decreased respiratory effort
Apnea—always check for patient effort and check for circuit disconnections that mimic apnea

14. A Team of Mechanics
Nursing and respiratory therapy must collaborate when assessing for changes in the patient’s condition and administering ordered ventilator setting changes
Most patients require some form of sedation; sedation holidays occur daily to assess the patient’s neurologic status and reorient him
The patient’s readiness for weaning off the ventilator is assessed by conducting spontaneous breathing trials

15. Road Map to Success
Elevate the head of the bed to greater than 30 degrees
Provide mouth care every 4 hours, teeth brushing every 12 hours, and deep oropharyngeal suctioning every 12 hours
Initiate stress ulcer prophylaxis using either histamine2-receptor blocking agents or proton-pump inhibitors
Initiate deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis