Mechanical Ventilation: Advanced Modes

The primary purpose of mechanical ventilation is to support the physiologic processes of oxygenation and ventilation and to reduce the work of breathing. The present chapter focuses on advanced modes and modalities of therapy for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The term advanced must be interpreted with caution because the use of many of the newer modes of ventilation is not supported with substantial evidence of superiority to the basic modes of ventilation for patient outcomes. Rather, advanced refers to the engineering controls and the proposed patient benefits.