ASV stands for which ventilation mode?

• A. Adaptive Strategy Ventilation
• B. Automatic Support Ventilation
• C. Adaptive Servo Ventilation
• D. Adaptive Support Ventilation

Answer: (D)

ASV stands for Adaptive Support Ventilation. The idea behind this mode is a closed-loop system that automatically adjusts the level of ventilatory support to match the patient’s needs, aiming to achieve a target minute ventilation while reducing the work of breathing. It adapts tidal volume and the back-up rate based on the patient’s effort and CO2 goal, so support increases if the patient tends to hypoventilate and decreases if they tend to hyperventilate. This automatic tailoring is what sets ASV apart from fixed or non-adaptive modes.

Though you may see similar-sounding terms in other contexts, Adaptive Servo Ventilation is a different concept (commonly used in sleep medicine for central sleep apnea), and the other proposed expansions are not standard terms for this ICU ventilation mode.