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Vent settings

How do I control a ventilator?

Start with what you are trying to change: mode, parameter, pressure, alarm, or waveform.

Vent modesVolume, pressure, PRVC/VC+, PSV/CPAP.ParametersVT, RR, FiO₂, PEEP, flow, I:E, trigger, alarms.Peak vs plateau pressureHow to measure and interpret resistance vs compliance.Alarms and waveformsHigh pressure, low volume, auto-PEEP, obstruction, dyssynchrony.
About this resource
Created by: Andrew Pirotte, MD; Kyle Brown, MD; Reba Hodge, MD; Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP; Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP; Joshua Mohess Clinical review: Emergency medicine faculty review completed. Medication content reviewed by Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP, and Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP. Last reviewed: 2026-07-23 Next scheduled review: 2027-01-23 Designed for: EM residents, emergency physicians, EMS clinicians, airway educators, and simulation faculty Important: Educational resource and cognitive-aid guide only; not a bedside order set or substitute for local protocol, medical direction, or clinical judgment. Website contact: [email protected]