Mechanical ventilation: changing concepts

Mechanical ventilation is routinely delivered to patients admitted in intensive care units to reduce work of breathing, improve oxygenation, or correct respiratory acidosis. Although traditional modes of mechanical ventilation achieve many of these goals, they have important limitations. Alternative modes are supposed to handle some of these limitations and are now available on modern ventilators. This article reviews general aspects of functioning and limitations of traditional modes of mechanical ventilation, and the potential interest of some new promising modes.