Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a form of hypoxemic respiratory failure, which requires supplemental oxygen delivered by mechanical ventilation, either noninvasively or more commonly by invasive mechanical ventilation. Although not currently meeting the definition for ARDS, these patients may also use heated high-flow nasal cannula and can sometimes avoid invasive mechanical ventilation as a result. The avoidance of worsening acute lung injury using lung-protective ventilation is the first principle of invasive mechanical ventilation in these patients. Conventionally, this involves keeping the plateau pressure below 30 cm H2O by using low tidal volume ventilation, based on ideal body weight. Multiple observational series suggest that targeting a low driving pressure concurrently is also important. The determination of the optimal setting for positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) remains controversial. The mode of ventilation utilized may be either volume or pressure limited. It has been suggested that vigorous respiratory efforts can worsen lung injury and are best avoided whenever possible. Modes of ventilation such as airway pressure release ventilation lack evidence to support use and should not be used. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Personalized Mechanical Ventilation: Improving Quality of Care

In dealing with the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, there are an increased number of patients requiring personalized management as the disease pathology varies. With variable lung compliance and airway resistance as well as the severity of the disease, one size will not fit all patients. This book is problem-oriented with evidence-based discussions of the daily encountered scenarios in the ICU for mechanically ventilated patients, dealing with the pathology, monitoring and troubleshooting facing intensivists daily. These scenarios are managed utilizing a goal-directed approach and algorithms to achieve these goals. All chapters contain an explanation of a different solution illustrating the respiratory mechanics, physiology and pathology involved in such a scenario. Each chapter also closes with a take-home message to summarize the content. In addition to describing the ventilation of different patient categories, this text also features ventilation cases specific to COVID-19 including airway management in the enhanced air born isolated patient, pulmonary embolism, different states of shock and differential lung ventilation. There is also a specific chapter on monitoring mechanical ventilation with point of care ultrasound, which is an available modality in most ICUs. Another unique chapter describes how to connect more than one patient to one ventilator in case of a shortage of machines. Written by experts in the field, Personalized Mechanical Ventilation is a timely and valuable resource for critical care physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists on the front lines of both COVID-19 and day-to-day care of mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.