Current modes of conventional ventilation in intensive care

In practical terms, ventilation of critically ill patients should be established in the following way:

• Setting a level of PEEP that is adequate to keep the alveoli open (above the lower inflection point; Fig. 3)

• Ensuring that the maximum inspiratory pressure does not exceed 30 cmH₂O (the upper inflection point), even if this results in small tidal volumes and permissive hypercapnia

• Ensuring that expiratory time is adequate to prevent gas trapping and intrinsic PEEP, by checking that the end‐expiratory flow returns to zero on the waveforms

• Accepting a PaO₂ of 60 mmHg (8 kPa) when setting inspired oxygen.