Ventilator Settings in Acute Care Environments

Ventilator settings across acute care environments are quite similar, be it in the emergency department, intensive care unit, or operating room. They are based on a lung-protective strategy to limit barotrauma, volutrauma, atelectrauma, and biotrauma. The main settings are the ventilation mode (in volume or in pressure) and the modality (controlled, assisted, or spontaneous). The clinician must adjust respiratory parameters (which can differ depending on the mode and modality chosen), including tidal volume or inspiratory pressure, respiratory rate, positive end-expiratory pressure, inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio, inspiratory flow, inspiratory pause, or inspiratory trigger. Additionally, care must be paid to setting of respiratory alarms in order to avoid complications.