Mechanical ventilation: Ventilator settings, patient management, and nursing care

Successful mechanical ventilation requires a basic understanding of respiratory physiology and ventilator mechanics in addition to intensive nursing care. The type of breath delivered by a ventilator is determined by the combination of variables set by the operator. This combination of settings is known as a mode. The choice of appropriate ventilator settings is largely influenced by the animal's underlying disease process and usually requires some trial and error for each patient.This article reviews ventilator terminology and settings, patient setup, monitoring, and some of the common complications associated with mechanical ventilation.