Pressure control (PC) is a

mode of mechanical ventilation Modes of mechanical ventilation are one of the most important aspects of the usage of mechanical ventilation. The mode refers to the method of inspiratory support. In general, mode selection is based on Respiratory therapist, clinician familiarity ...

alone and a variable within other modes of mechanical ventilation. Pressure control is used to regulate pressures applied during

mechanical ventilation Mechanical ventilation, assisted ventilation or intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV), is the medical term for using a machine called a ventilator to fully or partially provide artificial ventilation. Mechanical ventilation helps move ai ...

. Air delivered into the patients lungs (breaths) are currently regulated by Volume Control or Pressure Control. In pressure controlled breaths a tidal volume achieved is based on how much volume can be delivered before the pressure control limit is reached.

Uses

Pressure control is used in any situation where

pulmonary barotrauma Barotrauma is physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure between a gas space inside, or contact with, the body and the surrounding gas or liquid. The initial damage is usually due to over-stretching the tissues in tens ...

may occur such as

acute respiratory distress syndrome Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), and bluish skin col ...

Characteristics

* Type of breath — Only mandatory breaths are available to the patient in the pressure control mode in CMV. In PC-IMV the patient may breathe spontaneously but will get a pressure supported breath with PEEP rather than a mandatory breath. * Triggering mechanism — The mandatory breaths in the pressure control mode are time triggered by a preset rate. * Cycling mechanism — The mandatory breaths are time cycled by a preset inspiratory time.

References

{{Mechanical ventilation Mechanical ventilation