In mechanical ventilation, the parameter that initiates the inspiratory phase is called?

In mechanical ventilation, the parameter that initiates the inspiratory phase is referred to as the trigger variable. This is the mechanism or criteria that prompts the ventilator to start delivering a breath. The trigger variable can be patient-initiated, such as a change in pressure or flow detected by the ventilator, or it can be set to initiate breaths based on preset conditions like time intervals.

Understanding the trigger variable is fundamental in the management of mechanical ventilation as it ensures proper synchronization between the patient’s respiratory efforts and the ventilator’s responses. This synchronization is crucial for effective ventilation and to prevent discomfort or injury to the patient.

Other parameters like flow, pressure, and volume variables play roles in the delivery of the breath itself or in maintaining certain levels during the ventilatory cycle, but they do not initiate the inspiratory phase. The flow variable relates to the delivery rate of gas, the pressure variable pertains to the pressure level during ventilation, and the volume variable defines the amount of gas delivered per breath, but none of these actually start the inspiratory phase.