flow cycling | ORtoICU

This is likely the most important of the four tutorials on Pressure Support Ventilation. As you may recall, PS is an unusual mode of ventilation because it is flow cycled – that is – the ventilator cycles to expiration as specific, user set, percentage of peak flow. The default expiratory sensitivity is usually around 25%. Expiratory dys-synchrony is frequently missed by bedside clinicians who have not been schooled in waveform analysis. This tutorial covers everything you need to know. @ccmtutorials http://www.ccmtutorials.org

Next time I am going to commence a series of tutorials on hypoxia-hypoxemia. This will start with a discussion about how we measure hypoxemia – in particular oxyhemoglobin saturation (Tutorial 12). I will then go on to discuss atelectasis, shunt, ventilation-perfusion mismatch and introduce oxygen therapy (Tutorial 13).

This is the last tutorial in the introductory module – “setting up a mechanical ventilator.” In this tutorial I will discuss how the ventilator cycles from inspiration to expiration. In controlled modes this is usually time cycling. However, traditionally volume cycling of volume control was used. On occasion the ventilator pressure cycles – and you must be aware of this as it may cause problems. Finally I will introduce the concept of flow cycling: it is imperative that you understand this process if you use pressure support ventilation. I guarantee you will learn something in this tutorial.

Next week we will be moving on to Volume Controlled Ventilation – specifically Volume Assist Control.

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Tutorials in Anesthesiology & Intensive Care

Tag Archives: flow cycling

Pressure Support 4 – Expiratory Cycling

Tutorial 4 – Cycling The Mechanical Ventilator