A 50-year-old man on ICU with ARDS is being ventilated. The team notes that during the end-inspiratory pause, the airway pressure shows a brief initia...

Question

A 50-year-old man on ICU with ARDS is being ventilated. The team notes that during the end-inspiratory pause, the airway pressure shows a brief initial drop from the peak, then stabilises at the plateau. What does this initial pressure drop from peak to plateau represent?

Accepted Answer

The pressure difference between peak and plateau reflects the resistive component of airway pressure - it is caused by airway resistance and disappears when flow ceases (during the pause), leaving only the elastic (plateau) pressure; Peak - Plateau = Resistive pressure = Flow × Resistance

Answer

A circuit leak

Answer

An artefact

Answer

The patient making an inspiratory effort

Answer

Ventilator malfunction

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Peak vs Plateau Pressure

A 50-year-old man on ICU with ARDS is being ventilated. The team notes that during the end-inspiratory pause, the airway pressure shows a brief initial drop from the peak, then stabilises at the plateau. What does this initial pressure drop from peak to plateau represent?