Mechanical ventilation modes utilization. An international survey of clinicians

Background There has been an exponential increase in modes of mechanical ventilation over the last couple decades. With this increase, there have been paucity of evidence of which mode is superior to others or much guidance to use a mode in different disease status causing respiratory failure. Methods: An international survey of six questions was posted on the “society of mechanical ventilation” website and advertised on social media over the period of four months. This is a descriptive study, results are presented in two different ways. First as the total modes used and secondly, per the geographical areas as the preferred mode, mode used mostly in ARDS, COPD, and Spontaneous weaning trials. Results: Conventional older modes, Volume-controlled and Pressure-controlled ventilation were used significantly more in general and in different disease states irrespective of geographical location. Four other modes were used almost equally in all disease states irrespective of geographical location. Pressure support ventilation was the most common mode used during the spontaneous breathing trial. Conclusion: There was large heterogenicity of modes used between clinicians in general, in different disease states and in between different international geographical locations. Mechanical ventilation modes utilization varies widely and remains a personal preference with no consensus between clinicians globally. Keywords: Modes of mechanical ventilation, ARDS, COPD, SBT, survey