BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In mechanical ventilation, invasive and noninvasive, the knowledge of respiratory mechanic physiology is indispensable to take decisions and into the efficient management of modern ventilators. Monitoring of pulmonary mechanic parameters is been recommended from all the review works and clinical research. The objective of this study was review concepts of pulmonary mechanic and the methods used to obtain measures in the bed side, preparing a rational sequence to obtain this data. METHODS: It was obtained bibliographic review through data bank LILACS, MedLine and PubMed, from the last ten years. RESULTS: This review approaches parameters of resistance, pulmonary compliance and intrinsic PEEP as primordial into comprehension of acute respiratory failure and mechanic ventilatory support, mainly in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring pulmonary mechanics in patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units gives relevant informations and should be implemented in a rational and systematic way.
intrinsic PEEP; mechanical ventilation; monitoring; pulmonary compliance; pulmonary mechanic; pulmonary resistance