Nava

NAVA Technology Online Training Program

NAVA (abbreviated from N eurally A djusted V entilatory A ssist) - neuro-controlled respiratory support (NAVA) - a new method of mechanical ventilation (mechanical ventilation, abbreviated mechanical ventilation), based on the fixation of nerve impulses coming from the respiratory center of the brain along the phrenic nerve to the diaphragm.

The technology was developed by the medical company MAQUET in 2007. ^[one]

Currently, the technology is breakthrough in terms of ensuring the synchronization of the patient with the ventilator . While traditional mechanical ventilation devices (IVL) detect the patient’s attempt to inhale either by a change in airway pressure or due to flow deviation, the MAQUET SERVO-i ventilator equipped with the NAVA option captures the patient’s attempt to inhale much earlier - at the stage of passage of a nerve impulse from the respiratory center of the brain along the phrenic nerve to the diaphragm. According to the manufacturer, this allows to bring the patient’s synchronization with the ventilator to a new level and to avoid hyperinflation, auto-PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure) and secondary problems with the trigger, which is often encountered when using traditional ventilators.

The NAVA respiratory support technology consists in capturing the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) with a highly sensitive sensor inserted into the esophagus. Due to the fact that the ventilator and the diaphragm receive virtually the same signal from the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata , synchronization is ideal. The highly sensitive sensor incorporates electrodes for signal fixation (fixed in the cardia region), and also acts as a nasogastric probe for enteral nutrition . The sensor detects not only the fact of the inspiratory impulse (initiating the act of inspiration), but also determines the level of this signal , allowing the ventilator to determine the amount of respiratory support (inspiratory volume).