[Intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) -- a new method in the treatment of severe respiratory insufficiency (author's transl)].

The intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) is a new method of ventilatory support developed in the USA. It allows the patient to breathe spontaneously as desired and also delivers a mechanical hyperinflation at regular preset intervals. IMV is especially effective in cases of severe respiratory insufficiency after conservative management as well as assisted ventilation have failed and helps avoiding the disadvantages of controlled mechanical ventilation.