Knowledge and understanding of mechanical ventilation are central to ensuring patients’ safe passage from the acute stage to weaning. The author discusses the science related to mechanical ventilation in patients with ARDS.

Mechanical ventilation is one of the most commonly used technologies in critical care. Despite the prevalence of ventilators, care planning is heavily influenced by anecdote and clinical preference. A vast array of ventilator modes and mode options exist, and claims of what works and what does not abound. Critical care nurses’ knowledge and understanding of mechanical ventilation are central to ensuring patients’ safe passage from the acute stage of ventilation to weaning. Of key importance is the use of evidence that may improve patients’ outcomes. To that end, in this article, I discuss the science related to mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in patients who require weaning.

The acute stage of ventilation...

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