Basic Concepts in Mechanical Ventilation (Basics‪)‬

Indications for initiation of mechanical ventilatory support The primary indications for the initiation of mechanical ventilatory support are acute respiratory failure (including acute respiratory distress syndrome, heart failure, sepsis, pneumonia, complications of surgery and trauma), coma, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and neuromuscular disorders. (Esteban et al 2000) The primary objectives of mechanical ventilation are improvement of alveolar ventilation, decreasing the work of breathing and reversing life threatening hypoxemia or acute respiratory acidosis (Tobin 2001). Table 1 outlines physiological and clinical objectives.