Your patient has relatively normal lungs and is receiving ...

[mynx]

Your patient has relatively normal lungs and is receiving mechanical ventilation following sur-gery. You observe double triggering. What is the most likely cause?
 
  a. The termination criteria is set too low.
  b. The flow rate is too slow.
  c. Auto-PEEP.
  d. The inspiratory time is too short.

Question 2

What is the normal trigger delay?
 
  a. Less than 100 msec
  b. Less than 150 msec
  c. Less than 200 msec
  d. Less than 250 msec

[LVPMS]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
In patient with relatively healthy lungs where the termination criteria is set too high or inspiratory time too short, double triggering can occur every breath. These are primarily postoperative pa-tients or overdose patients.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Normally the trigger delay should be minimal, less than 100 msec. When it exceeds 150 msec, the cause should be determined. Adjusting the sensitivity, setting the tidal volume appropriately and/or applying PEEP should correct delayed triggering unless there is a true malfunction of the ventilator.

[mynx]

Excellent

[scottmt]

Great answer, keep it coming