Documentation Issues for Mechanical Ventilation in Pressure-Control Modes

Author: Chatburn Robert L   Volsko Teresa A  

Publisher: The Journal Respiratory Care Company

ISSN: 0020-1324

Source: Respiratory Care, Vol.55, Iss.12, 2010-12, pp. : 1705-1716

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

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Abstract

As hospitals begin to implement electronic medical records, the inadequacies of legacy paper charting systems will become more evident. One area of particular concern for respiratory therapists is the charting of mechanical ventilator settings. Our profession's lack of a standardized and generally accepted taxonomy for mechanical ventilation leaves us with a confusing array of terms related to ventilator settings. Such confusion makes database design impossible for information technology professionals and is a risk-management concern for clinicians. Of particular note is the complexity related to set airway pressures when using modes whose primary control variable is pressure (versus volume). We review the clinically relevant issues surrounding documentation of the patient-ventilator interactions related to airway pressure and provide suggestions for a standardized vocabulary.