Mechanical Power of Ventilation (Gattinoni)
Mechanical power of ventilation (Gattinoni simplified equation); above ~17 J/min is associated with higher ventilator-induced lung injury risk (Serpa Neto 2018).
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Respiratory rate
- 22 breaths/min
- Tidal volume
- 420 mL
- Plateau pressure
- 26 cmH2O
- PEEP
- 12 cmH2O
- Peak pressure
- 32 cmH2O
Result: Mechanical power 22.6 J/min (over 17, higher VILI risk), driving pressure 14 cmH2O.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- 17 J/min or below
- Below the higher-VILI-risk threshold.
- Over 17 J/min
- Associated with higher ventilator-induced lung injury risk (an association, not a target).
What you enter
- Respiratory rate
- Tidal volume
- Plateau pressure
- PEEP
- Peak pressure
How this is calculated
- Equation
- MP = 0.098 × RR × Vt(L) × (Ppeak − ½ × driving pressure); 0.098 converts cmH2O·L to joules.
Gattinoni L, Tonetti T, Cressoni M, et al. Ventilator-related causes of lung injury: the mechanical power. Intensive Care Med. 2016;42(10):1567-1575. Higher-risk association above ~17 J/min: Serpa Neto A, et al. Intensive Care Med. 2018;44(11):1914-1922. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.