Barotrauma associated with mechanical ventilation:
(1) pulmonary interstitial emphysema
(2) pneumothorax
(3) pneumomediastinum or pneumopericardium
(4) pneumoperitoneum
(5) subcutaneous emphysema
Other complications of mechanical ventilation:
(1) myopathy if depolarizing agents are used
(2) tracheoesophageal fistula
(3) ventilator-associated pneumonia
Cardiovascular complications:
(1) hypotension
(2) cardiac arrhythmias
(3) myocardial ischemia or infarction
Metabolic complications:
(1) lactic acidosis
(2) hyperglycemia
(3) hypokalemia
(4) hypophosphatemia
(5) hypomagnesemia
(6) hypercapnia/hypercarbia
Drug toxicities:
(1) theophylline toxicity
(2) beta-agonist toxicity
Other complications:
(1) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
(2) hypoxic encephalopathy
(3) atelectasis with or without mucous plugging
Ways to reduce these complications:
(1) Aggressive management to minimize the time in the ICU.
(2) Permissive hypercapnia.
(3) Noninvasive ventilation
(4) Avoidance of muscle relaxants
(5) Supportive ventilatory settings (prolonged expiratory time, patient-ventilator synchrony)
