Gentle Ventilation with Pressure Control Ventilation Modes

Patient is pushed onto stretcher by paramedic

With WEINMANN ventilators, you can use various pressure-controlled ventilation modes. The modes are integrated into MEDUMAT Transport and are available as a “pressure-controlled ventilation modes” option for MEDUMAT Standard².

Pressure control ventilation determines the pressure which is administered to the patient’s lungs. The inspiratory pressure (pInsp) is used as the control variable.

The tidal volume is determined by the compliance of the lungs and the applied pressure. The maximum pressure in the lungs remains constant, whereas the volume varies. Pressure control ventilation can prevent harmful pressure peaks and therefore any lung damage associated with ventilation.

Pressure-controlled modes available with MEDUMAT Standard² and MEDUMAT Transport:

  • PCV (Pressure Control Ventilation): Pressure control mandatory ventilation
  • aPCV (Assisted Pressure Control Ventilation): Assisted pressure control ventilation
  • BiLevel + ASB (Assisted Spontaneous Breathing): Ventilation at two pressure levels with pressure support

PCV: Pressure Control Ventilation

Ventilation curve to PCV mode

The PCV mode is used for mandatory pressure control ventilation with fixed pressure levels. This mode is used on patients who have no spontaneous respiration. However, a spontaneously breathing patient can breathe deeply and freely during expiration. The set maximum pressure limit (pMax) ensures the safety of the patient.

The following ventilation parameters can be set:

pInsp: Inspiratory pressure in mbar
Freq.: Ventilation rate in 1/min
PEEP: Positive end-expiratory pressure in mbar
pMax: Maximum inspiratory pressure in mbar
I:E: Inspiratory-expiratory time ratio

aPCV: Assisted Pressure Control Ventilation

Diagram with ventilation curve aPCV mode

The aPCV mode is used for assisted pressure control ventilation at a fixed mandatory ventilation rate. In case of spontaneous respiration, the patient has the possibility of increasing the rate and consequently the minute volume. If the patient displays a spontaneous respiratory effort within a specified time slot of the expiration, the mandatory mechanical breath is synchronized with the patient's respiration.

The time slot or trigger time slot can be set as a % of the expiratory time (Te) before the next anticipated mandatory mechanical breath. If the patient displays a spontaneous respiratory effort outside of the set trigger time slot, no mandatory mechanical breath is triggered.

The following ventilation parameters can be set:

pInsp: Inspiratory pressure in mbar
Freq.: Ventilation rate in 1/min
PEEP: Positive end-expiratory pressure in mbar
pMax: Maximum inspiratory pressure in mbar
InTr: Inspiratory trigger
I:E: Inspiratory-expiratory time ratio

BiLevel + ASB: Ventilation at two pressure levels + Assisted Spontaneous Breathing

Ventilation curve BiLevel+ASB

The BiLevel + ASB mode is used for pressure control ventilation combined with free spontaneous respiration at pressure levels pInsp and PEEP during the entire ventilation cycle and adjustable pressure support at PEEP level. This mode is used on patients who have no spontaneous respiration or on spontaneously breathing patients.

The patient can trigger a mandatory, pressure-controlled mechanical breath during a predetermined trigger time slot. The trigger time slot is 20% of the expiratory time Te before the anticipated mandatory mechanical breath. For the rest of the time, the patient can breathe spontaneously or with the aid of pressure support. The tidal volume and minute volume are determined by the set pInsp, lung compliance, and the set inspiratory time Ti.

The following ventilation parameters can be set:

pInsp: Inspiratory pressure in mbar
Freq.: Ventilation rate in 1/min
PEEP: Positive end-expiratory pressure in mbar
pMax: Maximum inspiratory pressure in mbar
Δ pASB: Pressure support (relative to the set PEEP)
InTr: Inspiratory trigger
ExTr: Expiratory trigger
I:E: Inspiratory-expiratory time ratio

Pressure Control Ventilation modes available for: