Final answer:
A candidate for mechanical ventilation is a patient who cannot breathe on their own or has inadequate respiration, which can be necessary in cases like respiratory failure. Spirometry is a diagnostic tool that can help detect breathing issues, and intubation may be used to establish an airway for ventilation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient who cannot breathe spontaneously or whose respiration is inadequate to oxygenate the blood is a candidate for mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation is a medical procedure used to assist or replace spontaneous breathing when an individual cannot do so adequately on their own. This intervention is crucial for patients who are suffering from conditions that impair the lungs' ability to function properly, such as in the case of respiratory failure, severe pneumonia, or during certain surgeries. It can be detected using spirometry, which measures the rate and volume of air that is inhaled and exhaled to help diagnose restrictive or obstructive lung diseases. Furthermore, in emergency situations where the respiratory system is obstructed, intubation may be used to establish an airway to allow for mechanical ventilation.