Health care professionals often lack sufficient training on ventilators, yet they encounter them frequently in their daily practice. This primer on mechanical ventilation aims to demystify the study of mechanical ventilation, in order to make the topic more accessible to non-specialist health care professionals. The book provides a thorough overview of the theory of ventilation, ventilation modes, how to use ventilator settings to achieve goals, selecting settings for Ideal Body Weight, safe tidal volume ranges, and arterial blood gases. Learners can use the interactive self-checks to assess their progress. By the end of this book, the reader will understand how ventilation works from initial patient assessment to weaning–thereby equipping them to work with ventilators effectively under the supervision of, or in the absence of, a respiratory therapist or other supervising clinician.

This primer on mechanical ventilation provides health care professionals with a comprehensive yet clear overview of the theory of ventilation, initial settings and titration, ventilation modes, and effective decision-making based on Ideal Body Weight, safe tidal volume ranges, and arterial blood gases. Using straightforward language, everyday object lessons, and interactive self-checks, this book aims to make the basics of ventilation more accessible to non-specialist healthcare professionals. By the end of this book, learners will understand how ventilation works from initial patient assessment to weaning.