title: Clinical relevance of monitoring respiratory mechanics in the ventilator-supported patient: an update (1995-2000).
abstract: The introduction of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit environment had the merit of putting a potent life-saving tool in the physicians' hands in a number of situations; however, like most sophisticated technologies, it can cause severe side effects and eventually increase mortality if improperly applied. Assessment of respiratory mechanics serves as an aid in understanding the patient-ventilator interactions with the aim to obtain a better performance of the existing ventilator modalities. It has also provided a better understanding of patients' pathophysiology. Thanks to it, new ventilatory strategies and modalities have been developed. Finally, on-line monitoring of respiratory mechanics parameters is going to be more than a future perspective.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Division, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Appendini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Confalonieri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D016896:Treatment Outcome