Airway Management

Question 1

Guidelines for instituting mechanical ventilation

Answer 1

Clinical Indices:
Respiratory rate above 35 breaths/min (?).
Other signs of respiratory distress: nasal flaring, accessory muscles

Arterial blood gases:
PaO2 below 6.67kPa (50mmHg) on room air, or…
PaCO2 above 6.67kPa on room air (in absence of metabolic acidosis).
“PF Ratio” (PaO2/ FiO2) less than 300 (where PaO2 measured in mmHg and FiO2 as decimal, eg 40%
oxygen = 0.4). [1kPa = 7.5mmHg

Mechanical indices:
Tidal volume less than 5ml/kg (350ml/70kg).
Vital capacity less than 15ml/kg (1050ml/70k