Which ventilator mode is characterized by breaths that are time or patient triggered, pressure targeted, and time cycled?

• A. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
• B. Pressure Control Ventilation (PCV)
• C. APRV
• D. Volume-Cycled IMV

Answer: (B)

Pressure Control Ventilation (PCV) is characterized by having breaths that can be either time-triggered or patient-triggered, with pressure being the primary target for each breath, and these breaths are cycled off after a preset time. This mode allows for a predetermined pressure to be delivered to the lungs, which can help to prevent barotrauma and ensure that the patient's lungs are adequately ventilated without exceeding set pressure limits.

In PCV, when the patient initiates a breath or when the ventilator reaches a specific time interval, a breath is delivered at a pressure that the clinician sets, allowing for flexibility in patient-induced breaths. This can be particularly beneficial for patients with compromised lung mechanics or those requiring controlled ventilation to avoid excessive lung stress.

Other modes, such as CPAP, do not inherently involve pressure targeting as they are mostly used to maintain airway patency and support spontaneous breathing without automatic ventilation. APRV (Airway Pressure Release Ventilation) involves cycles of very high and low pressures but is distinct in its approach to ventilation. Volume-Cycled IMV, while delivering a specific volume, does not fit the criteria of pressure-targeted breaths nor does it cycle breaths purely based on time or patient effort without maintaining a volume threshold. Thus,