Strong Efforts, Fixed Flow: The Volume Control Mode

Flow starvation is a type of patient–ventilator dyssynchrony that occurs when the ventilator’s flow delivery fails to meet the patient’s inspiratory demand, resulting in a scooped appearance of the inspiratory pressure–time waveform.

The term “work shifting” is now preferred, as it more accurately describes the phenomenon in which part of the inspiratory workload shifts from the ventilator to the patient. This can be recognized by a downward deformation of the inspiratory airway pressure waveform, indicating increased patient effort during inspiration.