Identifying Patient-Ventilator Asynchrony Using Waveform Analysis

Abstract

A significant percentage of mechanically ventilated patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) show some type of patient-ventilator asynchrony (PVA). The presence of PVA is associated with complications that affect the clinical outcome and the goals for which mechanical ventilation is used in critically ill patients. Currently, mechanical ventilators are able to show different types of waveforms that allow to identify the different types of PVA in a noninvasive and reliable way. However, in order to perform an adequate interpretation and management of the PVA the health care professionals must be properly trained in the topic.