What does VCV mean in PHYSIOLOGY

Volume-Controlled Ventilation (VCV) is a type of ventilation used in medical settings to provide precise, continuous volume of air to the patient's lungs.

In VCV, the ventilator delivers a fixed, predetermined amount of air into the patient's lungs at each breath. The pressure can be adjusted as needed for more effective breathing. This ensures that there is no under- or over-inflation, which can lead to long-term problems such as alveolar rupture or air trapping.

VCV has several advantages over other types of mechanical ventilation. It can help reduce work of breathing, hypoxia, pulmonary edema and decrease risk for barotrauma by providing better control over airway pressures and tidal volumes. It also helps reduce ventilator associated lung injury by regulating both peak inflating pressures and positive end expiratory pressures (PEEP).