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Ventilator Troubleshooting

Algorithm: Acute Respiratory Deterioration
1. Peak Inspiratory Pressure Decreased
  1. Air Leak
  2. Hyperventilation
2. Peak Inspiratory Pressure Unchanged
  1. Pulmonary Embolism
  2. Extrathoracic problem
3. Peak Inspiratory Pressure Increased
  1. Plateau Pressure unchanged: Airway Obstruction
    1. Aspiration
    2. Bronchospasm
    3. Secretions
    4. Tracheal Tube
    5. Obstruction
  2. Plateau Pressure increased: Decreased Compliance
    1. Abdominal distention
    2. Asynchronous breathing
    3. Atelectasis
    4. Auto-PEEP
      1. Tachypnea is primary problem
      2. Excessive Respiratory Alkalosis
    5. Pneumonia
    6. Pneumothorax
    7. Pulmonary edema
References
1. Marino (1991) ICU Book, Lea & Febiger, p. 368

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 6/1/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.