The importance of ventilation mode
A large proportion of critically ill patients require respiratory support.
Mechanical ventilation is considered as one of the causes of poor sleep quality in this patient category.
This is why different ventilator modes and their influence on sleep were investigated. No class 1 studies were found.
The results of five of the six trials (small randomised cross-over studies) suggest patient-ventilator asynchrony and possibly hyperassistance resulting in central apnoea to be the cause of sleep disturbances in critically ill patients.
The mode pressure support seems to be associated with more sleep fragmentation
than the mode assist-control.