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DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-9849
Proportional Assist Ventilation
Publication History
Publication Date:
03 March 2004 (online)

ABSTRACT
Acute respiratory failure due to derangement of mechanical properties of respiratory system and/or to neuromuscular weakness has been defined as ``poor neuroventilatory coupling.'' Proportional assist ventilation (PAV) is an innovative mode of partial ventilatory support designed to ``amplify'' patient inspiratory effort and thus to restore a normal ``neuroventilatory coupling.'' Potential advantages of PAV in terms of more physiologic patient-ventilator interactions have been evaluated by several studies. We review the literature to elucidate the state of the art of the clinical implementation of PAV.
KEYWORD
Neuroventilatory coupling - proportional assist ventilation - patient-ventilator interactions