What type of breath delivery is characterized by mandatory breaths that can be time- or patient-triggered, with no spontaneous breaths allowed?

• A. Intermittent mechanical ventilation
• B. Continuous spontaneous ventilation
• C. Continuous mandatory ventilation
• D. Pressure control ventilation

Answer: (C)

The type of breath delivery characterized by mandatory breaths that can be either time- or patient-triggered, with no spontaneous breaths allowed, is continuous mandatory ventilation (CMV). This mode ensures that the patient receives a set number of breaths per minute, meeting their ventilatory needs while providing control over ventilation parameters such as tidal volume and pressure. In this mode, every breath is a ventilator-assisted breath; even if the patient tries to initiate a breath, the ventilator does not allow any spontaneous breaths, making it strictly mandatory.

This mode is particularly useful in situations where it’s crucial to enforce ventilation and ensure consistent delivery of breaths, which can benefit patients with severe respiratory failure or those who are unable to breathe effectively on their own. CMV provides a high level of control to the clinician, allowing tailored ventilatory support, which is essential in critical care settings.