Respiratory monitoring during mechanical ventilation

Techniques to monitor the respiratory system during mechanical ventilation have evolved significantly over the years. When integrated with the physical examination, these tools aid the management of respiratory disease, ultimately leading to safer and more effective care for all mechanically ventilated children. This review will focus on readily available methods of respiratory monitoring for children undergoing mechanical ventilation. In particular, there will be a brief discussion on gas exchange, capnography, respiratory plethysmography and oesophageal manometry, as well as a more substantial discussion on pressure–volume and flow–volume loops. Finally, we discuss using all these tools to help determine optimal ventilator support for a variety of pulmonary disease states.