Patients who find it difficult to breathe on their own because of some respiratory problems rely on ventilators for this task. Ventilators can be mainly categorized into two types, invasive and non-invasive ventilators. While the invasive ventilators feature a tube through which positive pressure is delivered into the patient’s lungs, non-invasive ventilation machines have a face mask, helmet, or nasal mask to provide oxygen-rich air. To know more about the non-invasive ventilator machines and their modes, read further!

Modes of non-invasive ventilators

Mainly the non-invasive ventilators can be divided into the following kinds:

1. Controlled mechanical ventilation

The mandatory controlled mechanical ventilation is used for patients who find themselves unable to put any effort into breathing. The machine offers such people full respiratory support. It has pre-set inflation pressure or tidal volume, and the timing and frequency of breaths are also pre-determined.

2. Assist/control ventilation

This type of non-invasive ventilator mode delivers a pre-determined number of mandatory breaths without any effort from the patient. Like CMV, in this mode, ventilator delivered breaths are programmed by volume and pressure. It allows for patient triggering but provides identical breath to mandatory breaths. To prevent excessive inflation, the mode is set to fail in the variable lockout period.

3. Assisted spontaneous breathing

This mode delivers air depending upon the patient’s respiratory effort. As a result, the frequency and timing of breaths are determined by the patient. In this type, if the patient makes no respiratory effort, assistance is not offered.

4. Proportional Assist Ventilation

In this mode, the flow for countering resistance and volume for reversing compliance are adjusted on their own. It ensures enhanced patient comfort and improves success and compliance with acute NIV.

5. Continuous positive airway pressure

The machine is typically used for treating patients who have acute respiratory failure. It delivers more oxygenated content than other methods, increases airway pressure, and provides better ventilation to the collapsed area of the lung. Moreover, the machine also unloads inspiratory muscles and reduces inspiratory work. 

6. Bi-level pressure support

The bi-level pressure support uses a combination of pressure support and CPAP. The mode offers ventilation by inspiratory positive airway pressure, employs underventilated lung, and offsets intrinsic PEEP for expiratory positive airway pressure.

So, these are some of the non-invasive ventilation modes. Each has its advantages and is designed to cater to particular needs. The modes offer needful assistance to patients to breathe and are more or less comfortable.