Case Studies in Mechanical Ventilation

In this chapter, we review the principles taught throughout the rest of the text, using cases derived from prior Boston MedFlight transports. (Please note that all clinical and demographic data are changed and some cases are blends of multiple transports, all to maintain patient privacy.) In these cases, we review concepts of compliance, resistance, oxygenation, and ventilation, understanding ventilator screens and settings, managing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and asthma, as well as reviewing the ventilation of trauma patients and neonates.