Tidal Volume Calculator

Mechanical Ventilation Settings

Calculate appropriate tidal volume for mechanical ventilation based on ideal body weight using ARDSNet protocol guidelines.

Patient Information

Gender affects ideal body weight calculation

Height is used to calculate ideal body weight

Protective ventilation recommended for ARDS and lung injury

Used to calculate minute volume (typical: 12-20)

ARDSNet Protocol

This calculator uses the ARDSNet low tidal volume protocol, which has been shown to reduce mortality in ARDS patients.

Important Note

This calculator is for educational purposes only. Ventilator settings must be individualized and adjusted by qualified medical professionals based on patient response and clinical condition.

About Tidal Volume

Tidal volume (TV) is the amount of air moved in or out of the lungs during normal breathing. In mechanical ventilation, it's a critical parameter that must be carefully set to avoid lung injury.

The ARDSNet protocol recommends using ideal body weight (IBW) rather than actual body weight to calculate tidal volume, as this better reflects lung size and reduces the risk of volutrauma.

Ventilation Strategies:

  • Lung-Protective (6-8 mL/kg): For ARDS, ALI, and high-risk patients
  • Conventional (8-12 mL/kg): For patients without lung injury

Calculation Formulas

Ideal Body Weight (ARDSNet):

Male: 50 + 0.91 × (height in cm - 152.4)

Female: 45.5 + 0.91 × (height in cm - 152.4)

Tidal Volume:

TV (mL) = IBW (kg) × mL/kg target

Minute Volume:

MV (L/min) = TV (L) × Respiratory Rate

Clinical Considerations

Lung-Protective Ventilation Indications:

  • ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
  • Acute lung injury (ALI)
  • High-risk surgical patients
  • Patients with decreased lung compliance

Key Monitoring Parameters:

  • Plateau pressure (< 30 cmH₂O)
  • Arterial blood gases (pH, PaCO₂, PaO₂)
  • Oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
  • Patient-ventilator synchrony