ABSTRACT
The ability to provide mechanical ventilation (MV) is the cornerstone of critical care medicine. More than 50 years of clinical experiencewithMVhas shapedcurrentunderstanding of the four fundamental relationships involved in an MV breath (time, pressure, volume, and flow). These factors affect more than merely MV, as manipulation of these values will affect both oxygenation and CO2 elimination, but also affects patient comfort, secondary lung injury, ventilatorassociated pneumonia (VAP), and hemodynamic stability.
