Pressure support ventilation (PSV) is a patient-activated approach to mechanical ventilation that provides respiratory support instead of total respiratory control. It can be used for patients who are able to breathe on their own but not getting enough air, and can be helpful for ventilator weaning. PSV requires less sedation and reduces the risk of complications. Settings must be tailored to the individual patient and discomfort should be reported to healthcare professionals.
Pressure support ventilation (PSV) is a form of mechanical ventilation for patients that works with them when they try to breathe, instead of totally controlling the airway. It can be used with patients who are able to breathe on their own and who are not getting enough air. This can be especially useful for ventilator weaning, where the ultimate goal is to remove the patient from the ventilator entirely. Pressure support ventilation can be provided for pediatric and adult patients and can also be used in operating rooms with some types of anesthesia.
Patients should still wear ventilation devices when using pressure support ventilation. As they begin to breathe, this triggers the ventilator to build up positive pressure in the airways, which pushes air into the patient’s lungs. The patient would not be able to get enough air independently and the ventilator ensures that sufficient gas exchange takes place. Fresh oxygen enters the blood through the lungs as the lungs exchange carbon dioxide for release. As the patient exhales, the ventilator pressure decreases to allow for complete exhalation.
This patient-activated approach provides respiratory support, rather than total respiratory control. A technician can set the machine to specifications suitable for the patient, considering the desired amount of airflow. As the patient’s lungs improve, the level of assistance provided by the ventilator may decrease until the patient can breathe completely on their own. Such patients may need to stay on oxygen in some cases, but do not need assistance to maintain ventilation pressure.
An advantage of this technique is that less sedation is required. ICU patients sometimes need to be heavily sedated for their comfort, which is not necessarily beneficial to their long-term health and can be unsettling for family members. Pressure support ventilation creates less discomfort and discomfort and can allow healthcare providers to back off on sedation, which can promote faster healing. Additionally, patients don’t need to stay on the ventilator as long, which reduces the risk of pneumonia and other complications.
Healthcare professionals may recommend pressure support ventilation to allow the patient to breathe as independently as possible by reducing the workload and strain on the lungs. Settings must be carefully tailored to the individual patient and may require changes over time. Patients experiencing discomfort should notify healthcare professionals. Because a ventilator can inhibit verbal communication, caregivers may need to touch and point at the ventilator, or use pen and paper to communicate the problem.
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