A patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)has developed a pneumothorax from elevating peak and plateau pressures.The patient is currently being ventilated in the volume-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation (VC-CMV)mode with a set rate of 12 bpm.However,the patient is triggering the ventilator at a rate of 25 bpm.The arterial blood gas reveals ventilator induced hyperventilation with corrected hypoxemia.The most appropriate recommendation to manage this patient on the ventilator is which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Switching to pressure-control ventilation will reduce the continued risk of alveolar over distension,which has already caused a pneumothorax,by limiting the amount of positive pressure applied to the lung.Using the synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV)mode will decrease the ability of the patient to cause ventilator induced hyperventilation by triggering mandatory breaths.SIMV,with a low ventilator rate setting,can very well reduce this patient's respiratory alkalosis.Using pressure support with the pressure controlled synchronized mandatory ventilation (PC-SIMV)mode will decrease the WOB for the patient during spontaneous breaths.

A Patient with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)has Developed a Pneumothorax