If the calculation suggests the volume target will not be met, supplemental breaths are delivered at the targeted volume to achieve the desired minute ventilation.
[1] Mandatory minute ventilation allows spontaneous breathing with automatic adjustments of mandatory ventilation to meet the patient’s preset minimum minute volume requirement.
If the patient maintains the minute volume settings for VT x f, no mandatory breaths are delivered.
The method for monitoring whether or not the patient is meeting the required minute ventilation (VE) is different per ventilator brand and model, but generally there is a window of time being monitored and a smaller window being checked against that larger window.
MMV is an optimal mode for weaning in neonatal and pediatric populations and has been shown to reduce long term complications related to mechanical ventilation.