Ventilator Management: Modes, Settings, and Alarms

Ventilator Management: Modes, Settings, and Alarms

Ventilator Types and Terminology

• Major Ventilators in US Hospitals: Servo and Hamilton are the dominant systems.

• UNC Hospitals Preference: Primarily uses Hamilton ventilators.

• Terminology Differences:

  • Servo: Language is similar across modes, comparable to translating Spanish to French (words are similar enough for understanding).

  • Hamilton: Terminology is very different and does not translate well; akin to translating Spanish to Japanese. There are translation guides available on many Hamilton ventilators.

• CCRN Exam Consideration: When studying for the CCRN, it is crucial to memorize the specific terminology for at least one ventilator system as names for modes can be significantly different.

Ventilator Settings Interpretation

• Example Patient Settings (Michelle's bed settings):

  • Rate: $14$

  • $8274524$ at the gum (likely a specific internal reading, not a general setting)

  • PEEP: $15$

  • Other numbers presented: $550$ and $50$.

• Distinguishing Volume vs. Pressure:

  • Volume: Typically represented by triple-digit numbers (e.g., $550$).

  • Pressure: Typically represented by smaller, double-digit numbers (e.g., $15$).

  • Example scenario: Given $16/5$ and $550/15$. The $550$ would represent volume, and $15$ (or $5$) would represent pressure. The patient's respiratory drive is controlled by the patient for whichever setting the ventilator does not directly control.

Patient-Ventilator Interaction and Mode Understanding

• Identifying Patient-Triggered Breaths: It is not directly visible on the ventilator if a patient has triggered their own breath; it's indicated by a