Mechanical ventilation system for respiration with decision support

A decision support system for providing decision support to an associated mechanical ventilation system for respiration aid of a patient, the mechanical ventilation system comprising:

• ventilation means capable of mechanical ventilating said patient with air and/or one or more medical gases, the ventilation means having a plurality of settings (V_SET) comprising a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) setting, and
• measurement means arranged for measuring the inspired gas and/or the respiratory feedback of said patient in the expired gas in response to the mechanical ventilation, the measurement means being capable of delivering first data (D1) to said decision support system,
• wherein the decision support system is adapted for using both the first data (D1) and second data (D2) indicative of the respiratory feedback in the blood in physiological models (MOD) descriptive of, at least, lung mechanics, and/or gas exchange in the lungs of the patient, the physiological models comprising a number of model parameters (MOD_P), and
• wherein the decision support system is further arranged for simulating the effect on one, or more, model parameters (MOD_P) of the physiological models for a suggested value of the positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) setting for the ventilation means, and thereby provide decision support in relation to said suggested PEEP value.

A method for operating an mechanical ventilation system for respiration of an associated patient, the system being adapted for providing decision support for mechanical ventilation, the method comprising:

• providing ventilation means capable of mechanical ventilating said patient with air and/or one or more medical gases, the ventilation means having a plurality of settings (V_SET) comprising a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) setting,
• providing control means, the ventilator means being controllable by said control means by operational connection thereto, and
• providing measurement means arranged for measuring the inspired gas and/or the respiratory feedback of said patient in the expired gas in response to the mechanical ventilation, the measurement means being capable of delivering first data (D1) to said control means,
• wherein the control means is adapted for using both the first data (D1) and second data (D2) indicative of the respiratory feedback in the blood in physiological models (MOD) descriptive of, at least, lung mechanics, and/or gas exchange in the lungs of the patient, the physiological models comprising a number of model parameters (MOD_P), and
• wherein the control means is further arranged for simulating the effect on one, or more, model parameters (MOD_P) of the physiological models for a suggested value of the positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) setting for the ventilation means, and thereby provide decision support in relation to said suggested PEEP value.