Which mode allows a patient to trigger breaths, but also provides support for each breath?

The mode that allows a patient to trigger breaths while providing assistance for each breath is Assist-Control Ventilation (AC). In this mode, the ventilator can deliver a preset tidal volume and respiratory rate, but it also allows the patient to initiate additional breaths. Each breath triggered by the patient is supported by the ventilator, ensuring that the patient receives the same volume of air with each breath, whether initiated by the patient or the ventilator itself. This provides comfort and helps prevent respiratory muscle fatigue, making it particularly useful for patients who require assistance but still have some spontaneous breathing capability.

The other modes listed serve different purposes and have different characteristics. Controlled Mandatory Ventilation (CMV) requires the ventilator to control all breaths, thus not allowing patient initiation. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) maintains positive airway pressure throughout the breathing cycle without delivering mandatory breaths, which means patient-triggered breaths are not assisted in terms of volume. Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (IMV) allows for some patient-triggered breaths but only delivers mandatory breaths at set intervals, which may not fully support all of the patient’s spontaneous breaths.

Therefore, Assist-Control Ventilation is the best choice for a mode that facilitates both patient-triggered and ventilator-assisted