title: Patient Safety: Identifying and Managing Complications of Mechanical Ventilation.
abstract: Mechanical ventilation is a fundamental aspect of critical care practice to help meet the respiratory needs of critically ill patients. Complications can occur though, as a direct result of being mechanically ventilated, or indirectly because of a secondary process. Preventing, identifying, and managing these complications significantly contribute to the role and responsibilities of critical care nurses in promoting patient safety. This article reviews common ventilator-associated events, including both infectious (eg, ventilator-associated pneumonia) and noninfectious causes (eg, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, and atelectasis).
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, Westlain House, Village Way, Falmer Campus, Brighton BN1 9PH, UK. Electronic address: H.Baid@brighton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baid
mesh_terms: D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Atelectasis; Pleural effusion; Pulmonary edema; Ventilator-associated condition; Ventilator-associated event; Ventilator-associated infection; Ventilator-associated pneumonia