Dyspnea and mechanical ventilation: applying physiology to guide therapy

Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2023;133:162-180.ABSTRACTWhile advances in our understanding of mechanical ventilation have improved mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome, recent studies indicate a rising incidence of post-ventilation mental health sequelae, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Concurrent research on the physiology of dyspnea provides insights about the role of multiple sources of sensory information underlying respiratory discomfort along with the contribution of efferent-afferent dissociation to dyspnea, and the subsequent relationship of dyspnea to a range of affective responses, including fear and anxiety. An understanding of the mechanisms of dyspnea may provide holistic approaches to managing acute respiratory failure that can achieve the best physical and emotional outcomes for patients requiring mechanical ventilation.PMID:37701590

Source: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association - September 13, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Richard M Schwartzstein Rachel Sturley Source Type: research