Alveolar dead space comprises alveoli which are ventilated, but not supplied by the pulmonary arterial circulation, or alveoli which are atelectatic. The anatomical dead space is the total volume of the conducting airways from the nose or mouth to the terminal bronchioles, and in ventilated infants includes the apparatus dead space (endotracheal tube and flow sensor). The physiological dead space is the anatomical dead space plus alveolar dead space. 4, 5Īn important influence on the appropriate size of the delivered volume during mechanical ventilation is the size of the dead space, the volume of inhaled gas that does not take part in gas exchange. 3 Inappropriately small tidal volumes can be associated with a prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, a pro-inflammatory state and an increased work of breathing. 2 Delivery of inappropriately large tidal volumes can lead to alveolar over-distension and development of chronic respiratory morbidity.
1 Use of volume-targeted ventilation is a lung protective strategy as it potentially avoids too high or too low delivered volumes. Newborn infants often require respiratory support with invasive mechanical ventilation, unfortunately such infants can develop chronic respiratory morbidity.
0 kommentar(er)
