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Oxygenation and ventilators

Respiratory / Vent

Ventilator basics, oxygenation, pulmonary mechanics, spontaneous breathing trials, and weaning readiness.

Attribution: SurgCritCare handbook
Updated: 5/29/2026

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Ventilator And Oxygenation Topics

At a Glance

Use these points for ventilator setup, oxygenation, pulmonary mechanics, weaning, and extubation planning.

Ventilator basicsTrack mode, tidal volume, respiratory rate, FiO2, PEEP, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and synchrony.

Use lung-protective thinking.
Look for reversible causes of dyssynchrony.
Trend P/F ratio and mechanics.

LiberationAssess readiness for spontaneous breathing trials and extubation with clinical context, not numbers alone.

Minimize sedation first.
Confirm cough and secretion burden.
Plan post-extubation support.

Ventilator And Oxygenation Topics

Ventilator basics, oxygenation, pulmonary mechanics, weaning readiness, and extubation planning.

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) InterpretationStepwise ABG interpretation: pH, primary disorder, compensation, oxygenation assessment, and common patterns seen in the surgical ICU.Open page ARDS — Definition, Pathophysiology & ManagementARDS primer covering definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, lung-protective ventilation, supportive management, and recovery after critical illness.Open page ARDSnet — Lower Tidal Volumes (NEJM 2000)Landmark ARDSnet trial summary covering lower tidal volume ventilation for acute lung injury and ARDS, including mortality and ventilator-free day outcomes.Open page Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) InterpretationStep-by-step ABG analysis covering oxygenation, ventilation, acid-base status, and clinical implications for SICU patients.Open page Driving Pressure & Transpulmonary PressureReview of driving pressure and transpulmonary pressure during mechanical ventilation, including strain, stress, plateau pressure, PEEP, and lung-protective ventilation concepts.Open page Mechanical VentilationIndications for intubation, ventilator modes (AC/IMV/PSV), Highland Hospital ventilator protocol, SAT/SBT criteria, and weaning pathway.Open page Patient–Ventilator AsynchronyReview of patient-ventilator asynchrony, including clinical implications, diaphragmatic dysfunction, dyspnea, monitoring methods, and ventilator-setting strategies.Open page Respiratory Mechanics — Detailed ReviewDetailed review of respiratory mechanics monitoring during mechanical ventilation, including pressure, flow, volume, compliance, resistance, and ventilator-associated injury prevention.Open page Mechanical Ventilation — BasicsMechanical Ventilation Basics Normal Respiratory v Mechanical Ventilation What’s different? Negative pressure v Positive Pressure Respiratory Terminology • Compliance: ΔV/ΔP • Elastance: ΔP /ΔV • Dead Space: Portion of...Open page Ventilator Weaning — Practical Guide (Akella 2022)Practical ventilator-weaning review covering weaning classification, causes of weaning failure, predictors, spontaneous-breathing trials, and liberation strategies.Open page Weaning Patients from the VentilatorReview of ventilator liberation readiness, spontaneous-breathing trials, extubation factors, and evidence-based strategies to reduce duration of mechanical ventilation.Open page

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Ventilator And Oxygenation Topics

Educational use only. Confirm clinical decisions with current institutional policy, source documents, and attending direction.