This article discusses the history, types and essential components of mechanical ventilation. It addresses the potential complications associated with mechanical ventilation and outlines the nurse’s role in the recognition and prevention of such complications. This article provides an overview of some of the advances in mechanical ventilation and emphasises the importance of patient safety through an awareness of the associated risks and limiting or avoiding mechanical ventilation where possible.
Nursing Standard. 32, 28, 41-49. doi: 10.7748/ns.2018.e10710
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Conflict of interestNone declared
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Received: 05 October 2016
Accepted: 14 July 2017
