What it means
In a resting adult, a normal breath is about 500 mL. On a ventilator, the tidal volume is the amount set for each breath, often based on 6 to 8 mL per kilogram of ideal body weight to protect the lungs. It is written TV or VT.
For the nurse
Check the ventilator settings against the order at the start of each shift, including the tidal volume, and report alarms for low or high volumes.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | TV, VT |
|---|---|
| Also written | tidal volumes |
Related terms
respiration
Breathing air in and out, and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air, the blood and the cells.
mechanical ventilation
Breathing support from a machine, a ventilator, that pushes air into the lungs through a tube or a mask.
pulmonary function tests
Breathing tests that measure how much air the lungs hold and how fast air moves in and out.