Author Question: Following intubation and placement on volume-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation (VC-CMV), a ... (Read 82 times)

kamilo84 · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

Following intubation and placement on volume-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation (VC-CMV), a patient's average peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) is 26 cm H2O following suction-ing.

The appropriate settings for the low- and high-pressure alarms are which of the following?
a. Low pressure = 6 cm H2O, high pressure = 46 cm H2O
b. Low pressure = 15 cm H2O, high pressure = 41 cm H2O
c. Low pressure = 20 cm H2O, high pressure = 36 cm H2O
d. Low pressure = 24 cm H2O, high pressure = 31 cm H2O

Question 2

A patient is being ventilated with pressure-controlled intermittent mandatory ventilation (PC-IMV) of 12 breaths/min. The apnea alarm time setting should be which of the following?

a. 4 seconds
b. 10 seconds
c. 15 seconds
d. 20 seconds

dyrone · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Low-pressure alarms are usually set about 5-10 cm H2O below peak inspiratory pressure (PIP). High-pressure alarms are set about 10 cm H2O above PIP. The only answer that fits both of these criteria is answer C.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Apnea alarms are usually set so the patient will not miss two consecutive machine breaths (apnea time > total cycle time TCT and < TCT 2). The TCT would be 5 sec/cycle (60 sec/12 breaths/min = 5 sec). Considering that the alarm should be activated after two missed mandatory breaths, then that would be 10 sec or 2 TCT.