table of modes of mechanical ventilation table of modes of mechanical ventilation there are many modes of mechanical ventilation. in medicine, mechanical ventilation is a method to mechanically assist or replace spontaneous breathing. a breath by breath trigger, limit, cycling (tlc) classification of the common modes of ventilation. (v = ventilator; p = patient) mode trigger limit icycle pcycle servo cmv (vca, ac) v or p flow volume time no pcv or pcirv v or p pressure time time no simv (volume cycled) v or p flow volume - no simv (pressure limited) v or p flow time - no simv+ps (volume cycled) v or p flow volume - no simv+ps (pressure limited) v or p pressure time - no cpap p pressure flow - no cpap+ps p pressure flow - no bpap 1 (cpap+ps) p pressure flow - no bpap 2 (pcv) v or p pressure timed - no bpap 3 (cpap) v pressure time - no bpap 4 (simv) v or p pressure time (iv) flow (ip) - no bpap 5 (aprv) v or p pressure flow (ip) time (iv) - no aprv v or p pressure flow (ip) time (iv) - no imprv v or p pressure time - no prvc v or p pressure time - yes (vt) automode v or p pressure flow (ip) time (iv) - yes (vt) volume support p pressure flow - yes (vt) minimum minute ventilation p pressure flow - yes (ve) mandatory rate ventilation p pressure flow (ip) time (iv) - yes (vf) proportional assist p pressure/time flow - yes (flow+ve) mandatory minute ventilation v or p flow time - yes (ve)