How to Interpret Ventilator Waveforms Using the Taxonomy for Modes of Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation is a complex yet essential aspect of critical care. This article provides a brief review of historical developments related to descriptions of ventilators, the derivation of the foundational equation of motion for the respiratory system and its derivatives, and a short overview of the taxonomy for modes of ventilation. These topics are then applied in a step-by-step procedure for interpreting patient-ventilator interactions through waveform analysis.