Abstract
Ventilator waveforms interpretation helps to understand the patient respiratory mechanics and optimize the ventilator settings. Ventilator waveforms combine curves and loops. Pressure and flow curves should be interpreted together using different time scale. They represent the interaction between the ventilator and the patient respiratory mechanics described in the equation of motion. The two main respiratory mechanics characteristics are the compliance and the resistance. They can be directly measured from the ventilator waveforms using occlusion maneuvers. Time constant is the product of compliance and resistance and represents the dynamic respiratory mechanics which is very useful at the bedside. In volume control mode, flow curve displays the ventilator settings, and pressure curve informs about the patient. In pressure control and pressure support modes, pressure curve displays the ventilator settings and flow curve informs about the patient.
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Arnal, JM. (2018). Basics. In: Monitoring Mechanical Ventilation Using Ventilator Waveforms. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58655-7_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58655-7_1
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