#258 Mechanical Ventilator Settings Explained | PEEP, FiO₂, RR & Tidal Volume Made Simple

Mechanical ventilation is a core skill in critical care and emergency medicine—but the ventilator can feel overwhelming when you’re first learning it. In this episode, we break down the essential ventilator settings—PEEP, FiO₂, respiratory rate (RR), and tidal volume (TV)—in a way that’s simple, practical, and directly applicable at the bedside. We focus on building a clear mental model of how the ventilator works, including: What PEEP does for oxygenation and alveolar recruitment How FiO₂ impacts oxygen delivery How respiratory rate controls ventilation and CO₂ removal How tidal volume relates to lung-protective ventilation How these settings interact in real ICU and ED patients Whether you’re a medical student, resident, nurse, respiratory therapist, or practicing clinician, this episode is designed to help you move from memorizing settings → actually understanding them. 🎥 Watch the full video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jazfwCDS4vg 🔥 Download the study guide for this episode + access the full emergency critical care curriculum: https://www.patreon.com/c/WhiteBoardMedicine Study guides • Mini-courses • Practice questions • Structured ICU curriculum • Ad-free content ⚠️ Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be based on independent clinical judgment, institutional protocols, and current guidelines.