Mechanical Ventilation & Airway Management Basics

Patients on mechanical ventilation require continuous monitoring of oxygenation, ventilator settings/alarms, and signs of complications, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) — prevention bundles typically include head-of-bed elevation to 30-45 degrees, regular oral care, sedation vacations/spontaneous breathing trials to assess extubation readiness as early as safely possible, and deep vein thrombosis and stress ulcer prophylaxis, since immobilized, intubated patients are at elevated risk for both.