Mechanical Ventilation in the Critically Ill Patient

Li Bassi G, Laffey J.G. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2022 Jun;43(3):319-320.

Critically ill patients frequently require invasive ventilatory support to maintain gas exchange, optimize oxygen consumption and delivery, protect the airways, avoid secondary brain injury, and in many cases to support respiratory failure and buy time until lungs recover. Mechanical ventilation (MV) has been particularly beneficial in patients with life-threatening conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other causes such as acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.