General Trends/Rules

Question 1

What increases Peak Pressure (Ppeak)?

1,2,1,1,1

Answer 1

↑ Tidal Volume (VT), ↓ Compliance (C), ↑ Resistance (Raw), ↑ Inspiratory Flow, Square Flow Pattern, ↑ PEEP

Question 2

What decreases Peak Pressure (Ppeak)?

Answer 2

↓ Tidal Volume (VT), ↑ Compliance (C), ↓ Resistance (Raw), ↓ Inspiratory Flow, Decelerating Flow Pattern, ↓ PEEP

Question 3

What increases Plateau Pressure (Pplat)?

Answer 3

↑ Tidal Volume (VT), ↓ Compliance (C), ↑ PEEP

Question 4

What decreases Plateau Pressure (Pplat)?

Answer 4

↓ Tidal Volume (VT), ↑ Compliance (C), ↓ PEEP

Question 5

What increases Minute Ventilation (MV)?

Answer 5

↑ Tidal Volume (VT), ↑ Respiratory Rate (RR)

Question 6

What decreases Minute Ventilation (MV)?

Answer 6

↓ Tidal Volume (VT), ↓ Respiratory Rate (RR)

Question 7

What increases Mean Airway Pressure (Pmean)?

Answer 7

↑ PEEP, ↑ Tidal Volume (VT), ↑ Inspiratory Time (Ti), ↑ Respiratory Rate (RR), Decelerating Flow Pattern

Question 8

What decreases Mean Airway Pressure (Pmean)?

Answer 8

↓ PEEP, ↓ Tidal Volume (VT), ↓ Inspiratory Time (Ti), ↓ Respiratory Rate (RR), Square Flow Pattern

Question 9

What increases Expiratory Time (Te)?

Answer 9

↓ Respiratory Rate (RR), ↓ Inspiratory Time (Ti), ↑ Inspiratory Flow

Question 10

What decreases Expiratory Time (Te)?

Answer 10

↑ Respiratory Rate (RR), ↑ Inspiratory Time (Ti), ↓ Inspiratory Flow

Question 11

What increases Auto-PEEP?

Answer 11

↓ Expiratory Time (Te), ↑ Respiratory Rate (RR), ↓ Inspiratory Flow, ↑ Resistance (Raw), ↓ Compliance (C)

Question 12

What decreases Auto-PEEP?

Answer 12

↑ Expiratory Time (Te), ↓ Respiratory Rate (RR), ↑ Inspiratory Flow, ↓ Resistance (Raw), ↑ Compliance (C)

Question 13

What increases Oxygenation?

Answer 13

↑ PEEP, ↑ FiO₂, ↑ Mean Airway Pressure (Pmean), ↑ Inspiratory Time (Ti)

Question 14

What decreases Oxygenation?

Answer 14

↓ PEEP, ↓ FiO₂, ↓ Mean Airway Pressure (Pmean), ↓ Inspiratory Time (Ti)

Question 15

What causes CO₂ retention (hypoventilation)?

Answer 15

↓ Minute Ventilation (MV), ↓ Tidal Volume (VT), ↓ Respiratory Rate (RR)

Question 16

What causes CO₂ elimination (hyperventilation)?

Answer 16

↑ Minute Ventilation (MV), ↑ Tidal Volume (VT), ↑ Respiratory Rate (RR)

Question 17

What increases Airway Resistance (Raw)?

Answer 17

Bronchospasm, Airway Secretions, Mucosal Edema, Small Endotracheal Tube

Question 18

What decreases Airway Resistance (Raw)?

Answer 18

Bronchodilation, Suctioning, Anti-inflammatory Treatment, Larger Endotracheal Tube

Question 19

What increases Lung Compliance (easier lung expansion)?

Answer 19

Pulmonary Emphysema, Lung Recruitment (PEEP), Resolution of Pulmonary Edema, Improved Patient Positioning

Question 20

What decreases Lung Compliance (stiffer lungs)?

Answer 20

Pulmonary Fibrosis, Atelectasis, Pulmonary Edema, ARDS

Question 21

What happens when the I:E ratio increases (longer inspiratory time, shorter expiratory time)?

Answer 21

↑ Mean Airway Pressure (Pmean), ↑ Oxygenation, ↑ Risk of Auto-PEEP

Question 22

What happens when the I:E ratio decreases (shorter inspiratory time, longer expiratory time)?

Answer 22

↓ Mean Airway Pressure (Pmean), ↓ Oxygenation, ↓ Risk of Auto-PEEP

Question 23

What happens when sensitivity increases (lower threshold to trigger a breath)?

Answer 23

↑ Patient-Ventilator Synchrony, ↑ Risk of Auto-Triggering

Question 24

What happens when sensitivity decreases (higher threshold to trigger a breath)?

Answer 24

↓ Patient-Ventilator Synchrony, ↑ Risk of Missed Triggers