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Mechanical Ventilator pearls





General indications for intubation and connecting to mechanical ventilation include the following:
-          Apnea or respiratory arrest (or profound bradypnea)
-          Decreased level of consciousness
-          Refractory respiratory failure leading to significantly rising PCO2 with fatigue, decreased air movement, and altered level of consciousness
-          Sever hypoxemia that is poorly responsive or unresponsive to supplemental oxygen therapy alone

Asthmatic patient on mechanical ventilator
When dealing with asthmatic patient on mechanical ventilator use longer inspiration/expiration (I/E) ratio, often 1:3-4 or even more, because this will help to allow time for optimal exhalation, facilitating ventilation and avoiding an excessive amount of further air trapping (auto positive end expiratory pressure [auto PEEP]).


Mechanical ventilation is the most important risk factor for stress ulcer in intensive care unit patients


Weaning failure
Weaning failure is defined as the failure to pass a spontaneous-breathing trial or the need for reintubation within 48 hours following extubation


20% to 30% of patients are difficult to wean from invasive mechanical ventilation


Risks of delayed weaning from ventilator:
- Mechanical ventilator related infections e.g. (Ventilator associated pneumonia VAP)
-Ventilator associated lung injury (VALI)
- Complications of long time use of sedations
- Airway trauma from prolonged intubation
-Deconditioning: Inspiratory muscle weakness and deconditioning are common in patients on mechanical ventilation for long time
- High costs
-Psychological effects


When intubate and ventilate a patient because of asthma exacerbation focus on maintaining O2 sat of 90% this is the most important goal, CO2 level of 60-70 and sometimes 80 with serum pH of 7.2 – 7.25 is acceptable


Larson Maneuver
Is attempt to break the laryngospasm by applying painful inward and anterior pressure at soft tissue just behind the earlobes of the patient’s ears ‘Larson’s point ‘bilaterally while performing a jaw thrust. 


Contraindications to PEEP:
Tension Pneumothorax
Hypovolemic shock
Bronchopleural fistula
High intracranial pressure
Right ventricular failure
Hypotension




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