Mathematical Modeling of Respiratory Drive in Patients on Pressure Support Ventilation

Abstract

Providing the correct level of pressure support ventilation depends upon the patients' ability to breathe spontaneously. Spontaneous breathing depends both on respiratory muscle function, but also on the chemical drive to breathe. Chemical drive is often reduced due to the action of anaesthesia, meaning that correct ventilator settings and anaesthesia strategies are coupled, and can be described through mathematical models of respiratory drive. This presentation will describe these models, and ongoing research toward understanding the coupling between anaesthesia and respiration in support ventilation.