6.9: Proportional Assist Ventilation — Read

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Proportional Assist Ventilation (PAV) is another ventilation mode that relies on the patient’s ability to initiate breaths. With this approach, support provided by the ventilator is adapted according to the patient’s effort. The clinician establishes the level of assistance (ranging from $A simple black silhouette of a cat sitting upright, with a curved tail and pointed ears.$ to $A simple black outline illustration of a house with a triangular roof and a rectangular body.$ ) that the ventilator will provide. This assistance represents the work performed by the ventilator.

During PAV, the patient’s generated flow and pressure are continuously measured and assistance is provided in proportion to their effort. Additionally, lung mechanics, such as resistance and compliance, are monitored and taken into account when delivering support. The ventilator employs an algorithm based on the equation of motion to calculate the appropriate pressure required for assistance.

Key Takeaway

PAV adjusts the level of assistance based on the intensity of patient inspiratory effort, in real time, which may prevent or reduce patient-ventilator asynchrony.

Medical monitor display showing respiratory parameters, waveforms, and settings like pressure and PEEP with date and time. — Figure 6.9.1: Puritan Bennett PAV+ Software by Medtronic. Used under fair dealing. All Rights Reserved.

This page titled 6.9: Proportional Assist Ventilation was last modified on Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:17:28 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Yvonne Drasovean via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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Key Takeaway