Ventilation Quick Setup Cards
All these Ventilation notes are for Rural generalists using the Hamilton T1. I don't want to get in fights with professors or Intensivists or any other ventilation nerds here. While I would like reminisce about the Oxylog and wax lyrical areminic. The goal is short notes for Rural Generalists who have to do more that one thing simultaneously and who don't need to consider the possibility that the lungs may venitlate like psittacosis.
Hamilton Ventilation Modes Cards
Click on the card if you're panicking and looking for what to start the ventilator on. Click on the notes if you're wondering why or what to worry about.
Stable Ventilation
One
Obstructive Pathology
One
ARDS type patient.
Two
Stable Ventilation:
STABLE VENTILATION
MODE: ASV
SETTINGS
Backup RR: 12 bpm MinVol: 110% (start) • ±10% based on PaCO₂
PEEP: Start 5 • Titrate per PEEP/FiO₂ scale
FiO₂: Start 100% • Titrate rapidly per SpO₂
MONITORING
Convergence Rate: <15–30 breaths
Safety Window:
Watch for shrink/shift toward bottom-left if stable
Flow Waveform:
Check q15 min initially Look for air trapping
Obstructive Lung (COPD, Asthma, Bronchiolitis):
OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG PATHOLOGY MODE: SIMV+
SETTINGS
Rate: Start 8–10 bpm • Ensure flow waveform returns to 0
TV: 4–6 mL/kg IBW • Often lower end due to low rate
I Ratio: 1:4–1:5 • May require longer • Ensure flow returns to baseline
Plimit: 40 cmH₂O
PEEP: Asthma: Start 0 Others: Max 5
KEY PRINCIPLE Expiratory flow must return to baseline
TARGETS
SpO₂ Target: 86–92%
CO₂ Target: 50 mmHg acceptable if pH >7.20 (Permissive hypercapnia)
MONITORING
Flow/Time Waveform: Watch for air trapping
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