title: Overview of mechanical ventilatory support and management of patient- and ventilator-related responses.
abstract: Nurses must be knowledgeable about the function and limitations of ventilator modes, causes of respiratory distress and dyssynchrony with the ventilator, and appropriate management in order to provide high-quality patient-centered care. Prompt recognition of problems and action by the nurse may resolve acute respiratory distress, dyspnea, and increased work of breathing and prevent adverse events. This article presents an overview of mechanical ventilation modes and the assessment and management of dyspnea and patient-ventilator dyssynchrony. Strategies to manage patients' responses to mechanical ventilatory support and recommendations for staff education also are presented.
authors.affiliation: School of nursing at the University of Minnesota, MN 55408, USA. igrossbach@netscape.net
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grossbach
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chlan
authors.forename: Mary Fran
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tracy
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000451:nursing*; D014939:Work of Breathing