Ventilation uses the following terms:

 

Rate of breaths

Also referred to as respiratory rate, breathing rate, or frequency; can be a ventilator setting or respiratory status the ventilator tracks as the patient breathes

 

Volume of breaths

Usually expressed in milliliters (mL); frequently referred to as tidal volume or ¡®¡¯VT¡®¡¯; can be a ventilator setting or respiratory status the ventilator tracks as the patient breathes

 

Sensitivity of breathing

Concerns how much inspiratory¡® or trigger¡¯ effort is required from the ventilator to recognize that the patient is trying to inhale; this can refer to a ventilator setting, but can also be used to describe the ventilator¡¯s responsiveness to the patient¡¯s breathing effort

 

Flow of breaths

Also referred to as peak flow or inspiratory flow; usually describes a ventilator setting but can be respiratory status the ventilator tracks as the patient breathes

 

Controls or limits on breathing volume, pressure or time

The ventilator can limit or control the inspiratory pressure, volume or time during breath delivery

 

Measured or mandatory breaths

Also referred to as mechanical breaths, describes breaths initiated by the ventilator delivered according to a consistent volume or pressure

 

Lung compliance and airway resistance

Lung compliance refers to the elasticity, stretch or ease with which the lung expands to receive volume

Airway resistance refers to the resistance encountered as oxygen enters the airway and to how easily the lung lets in air