A patient being mechanically ventilated and suddenly develops cardiac arrhythmias from increasingly higher PEEP most likely has an underlying issue from which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing PEEP can decrease cardiac output due to decreased venous return and increased pulmonary artery pressure, which can lead to acidosis. This can trigger cardiac arrhythmias in susceptible patients. Therefore, the underlying issue in this scenario is likely to be decreased cardiac output and acidosis.

A Patient Being Mechanically Ventilated and Suddenly Develops Cardiac Arrhythmias