title: A knowledge-based support system for mechanical ventilation of the lungs. The KUSIVAR concept and prototype.
abstract: The KUSIVAR is an expert system for mechanical ventilation of adult patients suffering from respiratory insufficiency. Its main objective is to provide guidance in respirator management. The knowledge base includes both qualitative, rule-based knowledge and quantitative knowledge expressed in the form of mathematical models (expert control) which is used for prediction of arterial gas tensions and optimization purposes. The system is data driven and uses a forward chaining mechanism for rule invocation. The interaction with the user will be performed in advisory, critiquing, semi-automatic and automatic modes. The system is at present in an advanced prototype stage. Prototyping is performed using KEE (Knowledge Engineering Environment) on a Sperry Explorer workstation. For further development and clinical use the expert system will be downloaded to an advanced PC. The system is intended to support therapy with a Siemens-Elema Servoventilator 900 C.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rudowski
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frostell
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D005103:Expert Systems; D006801:Humans; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide