tidalvevolum

Tidalvevolum, or tidal volume, is the amount of air that is inhaled or exhaled during a normal breath at rest. In a healthy adult, it is typically about 500 milliliters, or roughly 6–8 milliliters per kilogram of predicted body weight. Tidal volume is a key component of minute ventilation, which is the product of tidal volume and breathing rate.

The value of tidalvevolum varies with body size, age, and sex. Taller individuals and trained athletes often have larger tidal volumes, while the elderly may have reduced values due to changes in lung elasticity and chest wall mechanics. Other factors such as posture, sleep, exercise, fever, and anesthesia can also influence tidal volume. In clinical practice, tidal volume is measured with spirometry or body plethysmography, and it is particularly important during mechanical ventilation.

In critical care and anesthesia, tidal volume is often expressed relative to predicted body weight to minimize lung injury. A common target for adults is about 6 milliliters per kilogram of predicted body weight, with lower targets (around 4–6 mL/kg PBW) used in conditions like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Excessively large tidal volumes can contribute to volutrauma, while very small volumes risk hypoventilation and CO2 retention. Pediatric tidal volumes are smaller and scaled to weight and developmental stage.userid