Ventilation vs Oxygenation in Simple Terms

Hi friends, in this video we are going to briefly discuss ventilation and oxygenation in very simple terms. Ventilation refers to mechanics that make inhalation and exhalation possible as air is moved in and out of the lungs. Most importantly, ventilation controls the removal of carbon dioxide from the body. If you want to change your mechanically ventilated patient’s carbon dioxide level to improve their ventilation, you’ll modify the respiratory rate (RR) or the tidal volume (VT). Oxygenation is the means of getting oxygen to the end point by providing greater oxygen supply to lungs and therefore circulation. This is accomplished through diffusion and perfusion. Diffusion is gas movement either in the internal tissues between cells and capillaries or externally at the alveoli and lung capillaries. Perfusion refers to blood flow to tissues and organs. In mechanically ventilated patients, oxygenation is optimized by adjusting the percentage of oxygen present in the air mixture the patient is breathing (FiO2) and the positive-end expiratory pressure (PEEP).


In summary, ventilation is the delivery system that presents oxygen-rich air to the alveoli, and oxygenation is the process of delivering oxygen from the alveoli to the tissues to maintain cellular activity throughout the body.


00:00 The Basics
00:46 Ventilation
01:39 Oxygenation
02:48 Working Together

Brush up on some basic respiratory terminology here:    • Nurses' Guide to Respiratory Terms: The Ba...  


📚 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28846...
📚 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...


This content was peer-reviewed for accuracy by Kaela Smythe, RRT-NPS.


I’m Anna and I am a critical care registered nurse. I have worked in the NICU, PICU, pediatric floor, and on my hospital’s critical care children’s transport service. I am also a nursing instructor and love teaching students and new nurses!

Disclaimer: This video is intended for educational purposes only and is not indented as medical advice. While I strive for 100% accuracy, errors may occur and practices may change over time.