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Updated: May 28, 2026

Surfactant Depletion Combined with Injurious Ventilation Results in a Reproducible Model of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
Published on: April 7, 2021
[Interpretation of ventilator curves in patients with acute respiratory failure]
E Correger1, G Murias, E Chacon
1Grupo de Trabajo en Fisiopatología Pulmonar Experimental, Cátedra de Fisiología, FCM, UNLP, Hospital El Cruce y Fundación Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract:
Mechanical ventilation is a therapeutic intervention involving the temporary replacement of ventilatory function with the purpose of improving symptoms in patients with acute respiratory failure. Technological advances have facilitated the development of sophisticated ventilators for viewing and recording the respiratory waveforms, which are a valuable source of information for the clinician. The correct interpretation of these curves is crucial for the correct diagnosis and early detection of anomalies, and for understanding physiological aspects related to mechanical ventilation and patient-ventilator interaction. The present study offers a guide for the interpretation of the airway pressure and flow and volume curves of the ventilator, through the analysis of different clinical scenarios.
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