Complications of Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation is a life support measure that is frequently needed in cases of respiratory failure. Its purposes are many, including amelioration of gas exchange, the decrease of oxygen consumption of respiratory muscles (thus increasing the oxygen available to vital organs) and the reversal of respiratory muscles fatigue. Unfortunately, mechanical ventilation itself can be a source of complications, and among others we cite ventilator induced lung injury, ventilator associated pneumonia and diaphragm dysfunction.