624074/07 C-3
Contrary to some opinions, ASV does not eliminate the need
for a physician or clinician. However, ASV alleviates the need
for tedious tasks and laborious readjustments of the ventilator;
thus, it is a modern tool for the clinician. As such, ASV does not
make clinical decisions. ASV executes a general command from
the clinician and the clinician can modify it. This command can
be summarized, where the modifiable parts are in bold:
Maintain a present minimum minute ventilation,
• Take spontaneous breathing into account
• Prevent tachypnea
• Prevent AutoPEEP
• Prevent excessive dead space ventilation
• Fully ventilate in apnea or low respiratory drive
• Give control to the patient if breathing activity is okay
• All this without exceeding a plateau pressure of 10 cmH
2
O
below the upper pressure limit
This appendix explains in practical terms how to use ASV at the
patient’s bedside and provides a detailed functional descrip-
tion. Since Otis’ equation (Otis 1950) is the cornerstone of the
optimal-breath pattern calculation, this equation is included
and described. A table of detailed technical specifications and
pertinent references is also given.
C.2 ASV use in clinical practice
ASV does not require a special sequence of actions. You use it
in much the same way as are older modes of ventilation. This
appendix summarizes how to use ASV, while the subsequent
subsections explain it in detail and shows the control settings
active in the ASV mode.
To Next Page
Loading...