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Previous Volume 335:1916-1917 December 19, 1996 Number 25 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Mechanical ventilation is used primarily to support patients whose respiratory function is so compromised by drugs, disease, or other conditions that they cannot adequately breathe without assistance. Mechanical ventilation is also used in some patients with normal respiratory function, including those with intracranial hypertension who undergo hyperventilation to alter their cerebral blood flow. Negative-pressure devices, such as the "iron lung," were once used for mechanical ventilation. Currently, positive-pressure ventilators linked to patients by tracheostomy tubes or, more often, endotracheal tubes are primarily used.

Many forms of mechanical ventilation can be furnished in long-term care facilities, homes, or hospital rooms. Nevertheless, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• (2002). ATS/ERS Statement on Respiratory Muscle Testing. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 166: 518-624 [Full Text]