Artificial ventilation is defined as:

• A. Providing oxygen by nasal cannula
• B. Allowing the patient to breathe spontaneously
• C. Forcing air or oxygen into the lungs when the patient has stopped breathing
• D. Delivering medications via inhalation

Answer: (C)

Artificial ventilation means moving air into and out of the lungs using positive-pressure breaths when the patient is not breathing adequately on their own. It focuses on providing breaths to achieve proper tidal volume and gas exchange, often with devices like a bag-valve mask or an advanced airway connected to a ventilator.

This is different from simply giving oxygen, such as with a nasal cannula, which improves oxygen content but does not by itself move air into the lungs if the patient isn’t ventilating. It’s also not just letting the patient breathe on their own, which wouldn’t be considered artificial ventilation. Delivering medications by inhalation is a drug delivery method, not ventilation.