Pilbeam’s Mechanical Ventilation, 8th Edition - Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Vocabulary flashcards for chapters 1, 2, and 3.

Spontaneous Ventilation

The body’s mechanism for conducting air in and out of the lungs.

External Respiration

Involves the exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) between the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries.

Internal Respiration

Occurs at the cellular level and involves movement of oxygen from the systemic blood into the cells.

Transpulmonary Pressure (PL)

The pressure required to maintain alveolar inflation.

Transairway Pressure (PTA)

The pressure gradient required to produce airflow in the conducting tubes.

Transrespiratory Pressure (PTR)

The pressure to inflate the lungs and airways during positive-pressure ventilation.

Transthoracic Pressure (PTT)

Represents the pressure required to expand or contract the lungs and the chest wall at the same time.

Elastance

The tendency of a structure to return to its original shape after being stretched.

Compliance

The ease with which a structure distends or stretches.

Viscous Resistance

The opposition to movement offered by adjacent structures such as the lungs and their adjacent organs.

Distending Pressure

Pressure required to maintain inflation, for example, alveolar distending pressure.

Pulmonary Edema

Fluid accumulating in the alveoli and will cause a drop in the patient’s lung compliance.

Bronchospasm

Causes a narrowing of the airways and will, therefore, increase the airway resistance.

Fibrosis

Causes an inability of the lungs to stretch, decreasing the patient’s lung compliance.

Ascites

Causes fluid buildup in the peritoneal cavity and increases tissue resistance, not airway resistance.

Intrinsic PEEP

Air that is accidentally trapped in the lung

Extrinsic PEEP

The positive baseline pressure that is set by the operator.

Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)

The sum of a patient’s residual volume and expiratory reserve volume and is the amount of gas that normally remains in the lung after a quiet exhalation.

Plateau Pressure

The pressure measured in the lungs at no flow during an inspiratory hold maneuver.

Pneumatic Circuit

A series of tubes that allows gas to flow inside the ventilator and between the ventilator and the patient.

Limit Variable

The maximum value a variable can attain. It limits the variable during inspiration but does not end the inspiratory phase.

Baseline Variable

The parameter that generally is controlled during exhalation.

Expiratory Hold

The ventilator pauses before delivering the next machine breath.

Inspiratory Hold

The maneuver that will maintain air in the lungs and extend inspiration.

Trigger

The trigger mechanism ends the expiratory phase and begins the inspiratory phase.

Cycle

Ends the inspiratory phase.