Targeted interventions in mechanically ventilated patients

Abstract

In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it is imperative to provide optimal care to improve patients’ pathophysiological conditions. This is particularly true for patients requiring mechanical ventilation, as they are in a fragile state and have a limited ability for physiological compensation. Through various treatments and supportive measures, clinicians aim to support the patient in order to improve their health. The use of target ranges during these treatments may offer helpful guidance, helping clinicians to provide the intervention in the most effective way and reduce the risk of complications by staying within specific target ranges. However, finding optimal target ranges for each therapy can be a complex task, since different pathologies, varying illness severity, and use of target ranges in different individuals can all affect what the best target range might be.In this thesis we aimed to enhance the use of targeted interventions in mechanically ventilated ICU patients in three key areas, namely, oxygenation, anticoagulant treatment, and pain management.