A patient with bilateral pneumonia is being ventilated in pressure preset assist control mode with the following settings. Set inspiratory pressure=22 cmH2O above PEEP=2 cmH2O (i.e... A patient with bilateral pneumonia is being ventilated in pressure preset assist control mode with the following settings. Set inspiratory pressure=22 cmH2O above PEEP=2 cmH2O (i.e., total inspiratory pressure = 24 cmH2O), FiO2 = 0.8, respiratory rate=30, inspiratory time=50%. This results in an oxygen saturation of 85%. He is haemodynamically stable. The most appropriate way of increasing the oxygen saturation is to: a). Increase the set inspiratory pressure b). Increase the respiratory rate c). Increase the inspiratory time d). Increase the FiO2 e). Increase the set PEEP. Read more

Understand the Problem

The question is asking for the best intervention to improve a patient's oxygen saturation in a specific clinical scenario. It requires understanding of mechanical ventilation settings and their physiological impacts. The high-level approach involves evaluating how each option affects oxygen saturation levels.

More Information

To improve oxygenation in a mechanically ventilated patient, adjusting settings like PEEP and FiO2 is common practice. Increasing PEEP can enhance oxygen saturation by improving ventilation-perfusion matching and preventing alveolar collapse.

Tips

A common mistake is confusing the effects of different mechanical ventilation settings on oxygenation and CO2 elimination. Increasing respiratory rate or inspiratory time might affect CO2 but may not directly improve oxygenation.

Sources

• Ventilator Management - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov