Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Weaning from ventilator support
The act of gradually removing persons with reversible forms of respiratory failure who are receiving mechanical ventilation from that support. This may be done by alternating full ventilatory support with increasingly long periods of unassisted breathing. The timing and frequency of the weaning periods should be individualized to each patient. Usually by the time the…
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Ventilator graphics
Visual representations of airway pressures or airway flows as they vary over time.
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Ventilator bundle
A cluster of four evidenced-based safety measures that decrease the risk to patients of mechanical ventilation while in the intensive care unit. The elements of the bundle include elevating the head of the patient’s bed; administering medications to prevent deep venous thrombosis; administering medications to reduce the incidence of peptic ulceration; and giving the ventilated…
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Automatic transport ventilator
A portable battery-or gas-powered ventilator that can be used while transporting patients between locations. The ATV is designed for short-term use and often has separate volume and rate controls.
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Ventilation index
A calculation used to determine the severity of respiratory illness (acute lung injury and/or respiratory distress syndrome) in critically ill patients. The VI is the partial pressure of arterial C02 multiplied by the peak airway pressure multiplied by the rate of ventilation, all divided by 1000.
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Ventilation coefficient
The amount of air that must be respired for each liter of oxygen to be absorbed.
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Transtracheal catheter ventilation
An emergency procedure in which a catheter is placed percutaneously through the cricothyroid membrane and attached to a high-pressure, high-flow jet ventilator. This form of ventilation is used for patients with an upper airway obstruction who cannot be intubated.
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Synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation
Periodic assisted ventilation with positive pressure initiated by the patient and coordinated with spontaneous patient breaths.
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Protective ventilation
A type of mechanical ventilation in which tidal volumes are set to avoid overstretching the alveoli, and pressures at the end of an inhaled breath are set to avoid alveolar collapse.
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Pressure support ventilation
A type of assisted ventilation that supplements a spontaneous breath. The patient controls the frequency and the duration and flow of inspiration from the ventilator.
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