Which term describes ventilation where air is delivered into the lungs via an endotracheal tube or a positive pressure mask?

• A. Negative Pressure Ventilation
• B. Fluidic Circuit
• C. Baseline Pressure
• D. Positive Pressure Ventilation

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is how air is delivered to the lungs during ventilation. When air is pushed into the lungs by creating pressure above the surrounding atmosphere—through an endotracheal tube or a positive pressure mask—that is positive pressure ventilation. This method actively drives gas into the lungs during inspiration, which is why it’s the standard approach for many clinical ventilators and noninvasive masks.

To understand why this is the correct description: an endotracheal tube secures a direct airway and a ventilator or manual bag delivers air by raising airway pressure above the outside pressure, forcing a tidal volume into the lungs. A positive pressure mask works on the same principle but is used noninvasively.

In contrast, negative pressure ventilation would draw air into the lungs by creating a negative pressure around the chest (like an iron lung), rather than pushing air in through a tube or mask. Baseline pressure refers to a reference airway pressure rather than the method of delivering ventilation, and a fluidic circuit describes a hardware pathway in some ventilator systems, not a mode of ventilation.