How has the advent of waveform analysis improved ventilator-patient management for respiratory care professionals?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Waveforms give us the capacity to observe and document real-time measurements of patient-ventilator interactions. In the past, many problematic interactions between the patient and ventilator that were suspected could not be confirmed without sophisticated equipment and time-consuming effort. Now, someone skilled at analyzing waveforms can evaluate patient-ventilator synchrony, ventilator function, pulmonary status and appropriateness of ventilator adjustments in a matter of seconds. Also, hard copies of graphics depicting improvements in pulmonary function, ventilator management and respiratory care can be documented. It should be common practice for practitioners to use waveforms to assist in ventilator-patient assessment and management.