respiratorytriggered

Respiratory triggered refers to a mode of ventilation where the breathing machine delivers a breath in response to the patient's own spontaneous respiratory effort. This is commonly seen in mechanical ventilation settings, particularly with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and some modes of invasive ventilation. The ventilator is set to detect a decrease in pressure or flow within the breathing circuit that signifies the patient is attempting to inhale. Once this effort is detected, the machine cycles to deliver a set tidal volume or pressure support.

The primary goal of respiratory triggering is to synchronize the ventilator with the patient's breathing pattern, promoting patient comfort and reducing the work of breathing. When the machine is triggered by the patient's inspiratory effort, it provides assistance when and how the patient needs it, which can help prevent asynchronous breathing events. Asynchronous events, where the ventilator and patient's breathing cycles do not align, can be uncomfortable and may even lead to ventilator-induced lung injury.

Different ventilators have varying sensitivities for triggering. A trigger that is too sensitive may lead to auto-triggering, where the ventilator delivers a breath without a true patient effort, often due to circuit leaks or patient movement. Conversely, a trigger that is not sensitive enough can result in delayed breaths or missed efforts, increasing the patient's work of breathing. Therefore, proper setting and adjustment of the trigger sensitivity are crucial for effective and comfortable ventilation.