What is a potential consequence of setting ventilator sensitivity too high?

What is a potential consequence of setting ventilator sensitivity too high?

• A. Lack of patient effort to trigger breaths
• B. Increased patient effort to trigger breaths
• C. Self-triggering of the ventilator
• D. Decreased tidal volume

Answer: (C)

Setting ventilator sensitivity too high can lead to self-triggering of the ventilator. This occurs because the ventilator is overly responsive to even minor patient efforts or movements, interpreting them as a demand for ventilation. When sensitivity is set excessively high, the machine may activate and deliver breaths without a significant or appropriate effort from the patient, which can lead to a situation where the ventilator takes control away from the patient. Self-triggering can create inconsistencies in patient-ventilator synchrony, potentially leading to discomfort and increased work of breathing for the patient as they may experience unintentional breaths that do not align with their own needs. In contrast, a properly adjusted sensitivity ensures that the ventilator responds only when the patient is making a true effort to breathe, maintaining a balance between supporting the patient and allowing them to have control of their own ventilation.

Setting ventilator sensitivity too high can lead to self-triggering of the ventilator. This occurs because the ventilator is overly responsive to even minor patient efforts or movements, interpreting them as a demand for ventilation. When sensitivity is set excessively high, the machine may activate and deliver breaths without a significant or appropriate effort from the patient, which can lead to a situation where the ventilator takes control away from the patient.

Self-triggering can create inconsistencies in patient-ventilator synchrony, potentially leading to discomfort and increased work of breathing for the patient as they may experience unintentional breaths that do not align with their own needs. In contrast, a properly adjusted sensitivity ensures that the ventilator responds only when the patient is making a true effort to breathe, maintaining a balance between supporting the patient and allowing them to have control of their own ventilation.