Peer Review

Basic Principles of Mechanical Ventilation

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Nov 10, 2026 by Health Sciences

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This primer on mechanical ventilation provides health care professionals with a comprehensive yet clear overview of ventilation theory, initial settings and titration, ventilation modes, and effective decision-making based on Ideal Body Weight, safe tidal volume ranges, and arterial blood gases.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

Homework, individual, assigned readings, health sciences lab
This material can be used in many ways, from in-class to self-paced study, because it includes "self-checks" at the end of each chapter.

Technical Requirements:

Internet Access
Web Browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

By the end of this book, learners will understand how ventilation works from initial patient assessment to weaning.
- Each chapter includes learning objectives at the start.

Target Student Population:

College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Professional, Graduate School

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic computer skills, navigational skills on the book website, and internet access
Anatomy and Physiology

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The information is accurate and has many real-world applications for clinical practice.
The content is appropriate and uses a variety of learning methods (video, images, text, comparisons, applications, and end-of-chapter self-checks).
Media attributions are included.
The chapters are broken out in a logical and easy-to-understand format.
The content is written for a variety of health sciences students and can be applied in a variety of health care settings.

Concerns:

There are no citations or references to the information. Granted, some of the information is considered common knowledge in healthcare. No research findings are cited. Practice does change based on research evidence, so this could improve the book.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Each chapter includes learning objectives at the start.
Chapters include key terms, images, text, Object Lesson text boxes, application-of-learning exercises, and key takeaways.
Chapter 2 compares wanting some oxygen but not too much to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The book draws many interesting comparisons that promote attention and learning.
This material was easy to follow and could make the complex procedure of mechanically ventilating an adult easier and more inviting to learn.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Headings are set up sequentially.
Text is selectable.
The Object Lesson Text Boxes are great because they include a word description of the video.
Images include alt text.
The book can be accessed directly from the link.
The software was easy to use and navigate.

Concerns:

Under the Basics of Mechanical Breathing, where the animation of inspiration and expiration is placed, include a detailed description of the lungs inspiring and expiring to increase accessibility. Make it more like the object lesson text boxes, which are fabulous! — and describe the visual with words.

Other Issues and Comments:

Overall, this is an outstanding OER textbook about Mechanical Ventilation!
A few suggestions: incorporate citations, references, and research findings.

Creative Commons: