permissive hypercapnic ventilation

permissive hypercapnic ventilation

mechanical ventilation in which the level of carbon dioxide in the blood is allowed to rise well above normal values, to minimize the amount of mechanical support given to the patient, and thus minimize complications of that support, such as barotrauma. This mode of ventilation is used commonly in severe asthmatic patients, who, if ventilated more traditionally, would generate huge pressures in their airways, with resultant pneumothorax.