Adjusting Ventilator Rate to Achieve a Desired PaCO2

 

Parameters:

(1) current respiratory rate in breaths per minute

(2) current PaCO2 in mm Hg

(3) desired PaCO2 in mm Hg

 

target respiratory rate in breaths per minute =

= (current PaCO2) / (desired PaCO2) * (current respiratory rate)

 

where:

• It is assumed that there is no change in tidal volume.

• The minute volume is the tidal volume in L times the respiratory rate.

• The target respiratory rate may need to be ROUNDed to an integer.