INDICATIONS OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION

ABSTRACTMechanical ventilation is usually a temporary measure to support pulmonary function until the patient can breath adequately without help. Its purposes are to provide alveolar ventilation and carbon dioxide removal, adequate oxygenation and a reduction of the work of breathing. Mechanical ventilation is a complex and highly invasive procedure so in order to ventilate the diseased lung effectively one must understand the normal pulmonary physiology as well as the pathophysiology of pulmonary diseases. The clinician must also correlate the type of therapy to the stage of pulmonary growth and development and to the severity of the disease, in addition, the basic mechanical principles of the specific ventilator in use must be understood. Beneficial effects of ventilator Although there are many reasons for beginning assisted ventilation, the most common cause is respiratory failure. The mortality rate of sick newborns with respiratory distress who collapse and need mechanical ventilation is still high.