Ventilator mode basics, sedation scale use, and ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundle concepts for the ICU nurse.
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- What does "tidal volume" refer to in mechanical ventilation?
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The volume of air delivered in one breath.
- What does PEEP stand for?
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Positive End-Expiratory Pressure.
- What is the main purpose of PEEP?
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To keep alveoli open at the end of exhalation and improve oxygenation.
- In Assist-Control (AC) mode, what happens when the patient initiates a breath?
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The ventilator delivers a full preset tidal volume or pressure.
- What triggers a mandatory breath in Assist-Control mode if the patient does not initiate one?
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The set backup respiratory rate.
- What does SIMV stand for?
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Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation.
- How does SIMV differ from Assist-Control for breaths above the set rate?
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Extra breaths above the set rate are patient-driven and not fully supported to the set tidal volume.
- What is Pressure Support Ventilation (PSV)?
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A mode that assists spontaneous breaths with a preset level of pressure, without a set rate or volume.
- In pure Pressure Support mode, who initiates every breath?
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The patient.
- What does FiO2 stand for?
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Fraction of Inspired Oxygen.
- What does plateau pressure measure?
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The pressure applied to the alveoli during an inspiratory pause.
- What plateau pressure level is generally considered a threshold for lung injury risk?
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Above 30 cmH2O.
- What is auto-PEEP?
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Trapped air pressure in the lungs from incomplete exhalation before the next breath.
- What does the I:E ratio describe?
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The ratio of inspiratory time to expiratory time in a breath cycle.
- What is a typical normal I:E ratio?
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About 1:2.