The Hemodynamic Effects of Mechanical Ventilation!! 🔹 Preload ↓: Positive pressure ventilation increases intrathoracic pressure, compressing the vena cava and reducing venous return to the heart. Less blood in = lower stroke volume = potential drop in cardiac output. 🔹 LV Afterload ↓: The left ventricle benefits because the higher chest pressure reduces the pressure difference it has to pump against. This can be helpful in LV failure! 🔹 RV Afterload ↑: The right ventricle, on the other hand,

🫁 Mechanical Ventilation Explained We say normal breathing causes negative pressure when the diaphragm contracts. Think of pulling the air in! With mechanical ventilation we push the air in with the ventilator. This is positive pressure! Mechanical ventilation is used for surgery, pneumonia, ARDS, COPD, asthma, and loss of respiratory drive. The ventilator breathes for the patient while they can’t do it on their own! Ventilators provide different amounts of support depending on the settings. Ha