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

WhiteBoard Medicine - Emergency And Critical Care · May 4, 2026 · 27m

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…