A patient is being ventilated with a PEEP of 10 cm H₂O and an FɪO₂ of 0.4.The arterial blood gas results show that the patient remains hypoxemic,and the respiratory therapist increases the PEEP to 18 cm H₂O,maintaining the FɪO₂ at 0.4.The patient's static compliance changes from 28 to 22 mL/cm H₂O just after this change.The respiratory therapist should do which of the following?
A) Decrease PEEP to 10 cm H₂O and increase the FɪO₂ to 0.6.
B) Decrease PEEP to 15 cm H₂O and measure static compliance.
C) Keep PEEP at 18 cm H₂O and increase the FɪO₂ to 0.6.
D) Increase PEEP to 20 cm H₂O and measure static compliance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The increase in PEEP from 10 to 18 cm H₂O caused overdistention of the gas exchange units.This is evidenced by the decrease in compliance from 28 to 22 mL/cm H₂O.PEEP should be increased in increments of 3⁻⁵ cm H₂O at a time.Therefore,the respiratory therapist should step the PEEP back to 13-15 cm H₂O and check the static compliance.

A Patient Is Being Ventilated with a PEEP of 10