A 56-year-old man with moderate ARDS is ventilated with VCV, TV 6 mL/kg IBW, PEEP 12 cmH2O, FiO2 0.55, RR 24/min. Plateau pressure is 26 cmH2O. The be...

Question

A 56-year-old man with moderate ARDS is ventilated with VCV, TV 6 mL/kg IBW, PEEP 12 cmH2O, FiO2 0.55, RR 24/min. Plateau pressure is 26 cmH2O. The bedside nurse notes the ventilator waveform shows a progressive decrease in peak inspiratory pressure over 30 minutes from 38 to 28 cmH2O with unchanged settings. What is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

Developing circuit leak or cuff leak

Answer

Improving lung compliance

Answer

Worsening bronchospasm

Answer

Increasing patient effort overriding the ventilator

Answer

Ventilator malfunction requiring immediate replacement

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Ventilator Troubleshooting