This book provides coverage of all the clinical, pharmacological, and technical issues surrounding the use of mechanical ventilation.

pt. I, Historical background : -- Historical perspective on the development of mechanical ventilation. pt. II, Physical basis of mechanical ventilation : -- Classification of mechanical ventilators and modes of ventilation -- Basic principles of ventilator design. pt. III, Indications : -- Indications for mechanical ventilation. pt. IV, Conventional methods of ventilatory support : -- Setting the ventilator -- Assist-control ventilation -- Intermittent mandatory ventilation -- Pressure-support ventilation -- Pressure-controlled and inverse-ratio ventilation -- Positive end-expiratory pressure. pt. V, Alternative methods of ventilator support : -- Airway pressure release ventilation -- Proportional-assist ventilation -- Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist -- Permissive hypercapnia -- Feedback enhancements on ventilator breaths. pt. VI, Noninvasive methods of ventilator support : -- Negative-pressure ventilation -- Noninvasive respiratory AIDS: rocking bed, pneumobelt, and glossopharyngeal breathing -- Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation. pt. VII, Unconventional methods of ventilator support : -- High-frequency ventilation -- Extracorporeal life support for cardiopulmonary failure -- Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal -- Transtracheal gas insufflation, transtracheal oxygen therapy, emergency transtracheal ventilation. pt. VIII, Ventilator support in specific settings : -- Mechanical ventilation in the neonatal and pediatric setting -- Mechanical ventilation during general anesthesia -- Independent lung ventilation -- Mechanical ventilation during resuscitation -- Transport of the ventilator-supported patient -- Home mechanical ventilation -- Mechanical ventilation in the acute respiratory distress syndrome -- Mechanical ventilation for severe asthma -- Mechanical ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- Mechanical ventilation in neuromuscular disease -- Chronic ventilator facilities -- Noninvasive ventilation on a general ward. pt. IX, Physiologic effects of mechanical ventilation : -- Effects of mechanical ventilation on control of breathing -- Effect of mechanical ventilation on heart-lung interactions -- Effect of mechanical ventilation on gas exchange. pt. X. Artificial airways and management : -- Airway management -- Complications of translaryngeal intubation -- Care of the mechanically-ventilated patient with a tracheostomy. pt. XI, Complications in ventilator-supported patients : -- Complications associated with mechanical ventilation -- Ventilator-induced lung injury -- Ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction -- Barotrauma and bronchopleural fistula -- Oxygen toxicity -- Pneumonia in the ventilator-dependent patient -- Sinus infections in the ventilated patient. pt. XII, Evaluation and monitoring of ventilator-supported patients : -- Monitoring during mechanical ventilation. pt. XIII, Management of the ventilator-supported patient : -- Prone positioning in acute respiratory failure -- Pain control, sedation, and neuromuscular blockade -- Humidification -- Airway secretions and suctioning -- Fighting the ventilator -- Psychological problems in the ventilated patient -- Addressing respiratory discomfort in the ventilated patient -- Ventilator-supported speech -- Sleep in the ventilator-supported patient -- Weaning from mechanical ventilation -- Extubation. pt. XIV, Adjunctive therapy : -- Surfactant -- Nitric oxide as an adjunct -- Diaphragmatic pacing -- Bronchodilator therapy -- Inhaled antibiotic therapy -- Fluid management in the ventilated patient. pt. XV, Ethics and economics : -- The ethics of withholding and withdrawing mechanical ventilation -- Economics of ventilator care -- Long-term outcomes after mechanical ventilation.