Goals

Enhance ICU clinicians’ understanding
of the physiological principles informing assessment
and management of mechanical ventilation and strengthen
their skills in assessing patient-ventilator interaction.
Increase awareness
of the many relevant aspects of conventional and novel
invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation techniques.
Enhance ICU clinicians’ knowledge
of the management of specific clinical problems in
mechanically ventilated patients: acute respiratory
distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
exacerbations, and difficult weaning from mechanical
ventilation.

Objectives

Explain and assess
basic physiological aspects of patient-ventilator interaction:
respiratory mechanics, respiratory muscle activity and function,
patient-ventilator synchrony, and ventilator-induced lung and
respiratory muscle injury.
Determine why and when
mechanical ventilation can be a treatment, a supportive therapy
or a source of complications.
Describe the optimal approach
to liberating patients from mechanical ventilation and conduct a
comprehensive clinical assessment to identify and treat causes of
difficult ventilator weaning.
Deliver evidence-based management
of acute respiratory failure using both non-invasive and invasive
ventilatory techniques for the following conditions: acute respiratory
distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and
weaning from mechanical ventilation