Volume guarantee ventilation

Recognition that volume, not pressure, is the key factor in ventilator-induced lung injury and the association of hypocarbia with neonatal brain injury demonstrate the importance of better control delivered tidal volume. New microprocessor-based ventilator modalities combine advantages of pressure-limited ventilation with the ability to deliver a more consistent tidal volume. This article discusses automatic weaning of peak inspiratory pressure in response to changing lung compliance and respiratory effort. More consistent tidal volume, fewer excessively large breaths, lower peak pressure, less hypocapnia, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, and lower levels of inflammatory cytokines have been documented in short-term clinical trials. It remains to be seen if these short-term benefits ultimately lead to a reduced incidence of chronic lung disease.