Skip to airway content Airway of the MonthStudy the case. Practice the plan. Debrief the room.

Ventilator pattern lesson

Cuff leak branch — case discussion

Fictional cue set: Low exhaled VT with audible leak or poor seal.

Check tube positionCuff at cords / partial extubation.Hypoxemia branchStudy the hypoxemia case.

Leak / cuff pattern

Leak / cuff pattern

Low exhaled volume may reflect cuff leak, circuit leak, or partial extubation.

Original Airway of the Month teaching diagrams redrawn from standard ventilator scalar and loop conventions. Interpretation is anchored to the AARC 2024 Patient–Ventilator Assessment guideline, the peer-reviewed Basics of Ventilator Waveforms review, the 2026 SYNAPsE asynchrony consensus, and the University of Pennsylvania Ventilator Overview and Troubleshooting tip sheet. Waveforms are pattern-recognition aids, not diagnoses; display colors, labels, and orientation vary by ventilator brand.

Recognition clues to compare

  • Pilot balloon/cuff inflation and cuff pressure.
  • Audible leak at mouth/neck/trach site.
  • Tube size, cuff rupture, tube migration, or cuff above cords.

Evidence and use limits

Last reviewed: 2026-07-17. Designed for: emergency medicine learners, clinicians, EMS, RT, and airway educators.

This fictional ventilator discussion supports pattern-recognition teaching. It does not select settings or recommend a time-critical action. Verify current evidence, equipment instructions, and local policy before clinical application.

Full references · Editorial policy · AARC 2024 ventilator assessment · ATS/ESICM/SCCM lung-protective ventilation · ATS 2024 ARDS update

About this resource
Created by: Andrew Pirotte, MD; Kyle Brown, MD; Reba Hodge, MD; Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP; Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP; Joshua Mohess Clinical review: Emergency medicine faculty review completed. Medication content reviewed by Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP, and Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP. Last source review: 2026-08-06 Next scheduled review: 2027-02-06 Designed for: EM residents, emergency physicians, EMS clinicians, airway educators, and simulation faculty Important: Education and source review only; no patient-specific or time-critical recommendations. Independently verify current evidence and local policy. Website contact: kybrown@kumc.edu