A mechanically ventilated patient has just experienced a ...

[Redwolflake15]

A mechanically ventilated patient has just experienced a life-threatening ventilator malfunction. How should the therapist record this equipment malfunction?
 
  A. Level 1
  B. Level 2
  C. Level 3
  D. Level 4

Question 2

The therapist is monitoring the flow, volume, and pressure scalars of a patient receiving mechanical ventilation. After the first exhalation, the therapist initiates an expiratory pause. Based on the pressure-time tracing in particular, what will the therapist observe?
 
  A. plateau pressure
  B. auto-PEEP
  C. applied PEEP
  D. applied and auto-PEEP

[mtmmmmmk]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
A. Correct response: A Level 1 event describes immediate life-threatening consequences to a ventilator malfunction. The expectation for a Level 1 alarm is that it will warn of every event in time for prompt corrections.
B. Incorrect response: A Level 2 event is a ventilator malfunction that is not immediately life threatening to the patient.
C. Incorrect response: A Level 3 event is a patient event affecting the ventilator-patient interface.
D. Incorrect response: A Level 4 event is a patient event not affecting the ventilator-patient interface.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
A. Incorrect response: See explanation D.
B. Incorrect response: See explanation D.
C. Incorrect response: See explanation D.
D. Correct response:
By performing an expiratory pause (EP), the therapist will be able to measure the intrinsic PEEP. The applied PEEP will be observed and measured with every breath without the therapist having to conduct any special maneuvers. The difference between the measurement obtained as a result of the expiratory pause and the applied PEEP will equal the auto-PEEP.