Mechanical Ventilation: Physiological and Clinical Applications

Mechanical ventilation is a medical method in which mechanical means are used to replace or assist spontaneous breathing. It may either involve a machine known as a ventilator or a qualified professional who may use a bag valve mask device. Mechanical ventilation may either be invasive or non-invasive in nature. It is termed invasive if an instrument is inserted inside the trachea through the mouth. Non-invasive ventilation makes use of a face or nasal mask and is used only for conscious patients. The two primary forms of mechanical ventilation are positive pressure ventilation and negative pressure ventilation. The positive pressure ventilation involves pushing air into the lungs via the airways. During the process of negative pressure ventilation, the air is sucked into the lungs by stimulating movements of the chest. Mechanical ventilation is used in severe conditions or injuries such as acute lung injury and trauma, acute severe asthma, hypotension, hypoxemia and neurological diseases. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to mechanical ventilation. It outlines the processes and applications of mechanical ventilation in detail. The book will serve as a valuable source of reference for graduate and postgraduate students.