(See
Compliance/Resp Failure) - normal Tidal Volume w/ spontaneous breathing is 5 ml/kg; - w/ Ventilator, Initially set at 10-15 cc/kg body wt, in Newborns as well as Adults; - adjust as needed w/ ABG; -
Tidal vol may need to be increased in individuals w/
Resp acidosis despite adequate frequency of ventialation; - w/ high pCO2: must increase
Minute Vol; - if tidal volume is already at the upper limits of suggested range, or if
peak inspiratory pressures are high ( > 60), or if there is prominent chest expansion w/ each breath, one would be inclined to increase
rate rather than volume; - if
rate is already at upper limits of range, or if
peak inspiratory pressures are low, and if chest expansion w/ each breath is not marked,
TV may be safely increased; - w/ Low pCO2: must decrease
Minute Vol - note: mild
respiratory alkalosis is desirable, and usually minute ventilation is not decrease unless pCO2 < 30 mm Hg) - decr min. volume may occur by decr
rate or tidal volume. - however, a illogical method is by increasing the length of ventilator tubing. (some illogically believe that by decreasing
Minute Vol by other methods might decr
oxygenation.)
