For which situations is PSV most commonly indicated?

Pressure Support Ventilation (PSV) is most commonly indicated for situations where patients have respiratory muscle weakness or require assistance in generating adequate tidal volumes while maintaining an ability to initiate breaths on their own. This mode of ventilation promotes patient comfort and helps to facilitate spontaneous breathing.

In the context of long-term mechanical ventilation, PSV is particularly beneficial for patients who exhibit significant respiratory muscle fatigue but still possess some capability to breathe independently. It allows these patients to receive the necessary support for adequate ventilation while they work to regain their respiratory strength. This supportive function is crucial for weaning patients from mechanical ventilation over time.

Short-term mechanical ventilation may be better suited for other modes that provide more stringent control over ventilation parameters. Complete apnea primarily requires modes that ensure consistent and total mechanical support, not the partial support that PSV offers. Patients with high tidal volume needs, like those with restrictive lung disease, may require different settings or modes of ventilation that can deliver higher volumes consistently and may not be suitable for the variable tidal volume delivery characteristic of PSV.