What is the relationship between compliance and plateau pressure?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the physiological relationship between compliance and plateau pressure, likely in the context of respiratory physiology or mechanics of ventilation. The response involves understanding how changes in compliance (the ability of the lungs to expand) impact plateau pressure (the pressure measured in the airway at the end of inspiration).
Answer
Decreased lung compliance increases plateau pressure.
The relationship between compliance and plateau pressure is that when lung compliance decreases, plateau pressure tends to rise. This is because plateau pressure reflects the static compliance of the respiratory system, and poor compliance leads to higher pressures for the same volume.
Answer for screen readers
The relationship between compliance and plateau pressure is that when lung compliance decreases, plateau pressure tends to rise. This is because plateau pressure reflects the static compliance of the respiratory system, and poor compliance leads to higher pressures for the same volume.
More Information
Plateau pressure is used in mechanical ventilation to measure static lung compliance and assess the risk of barotrauma. If compliance decreases due to conditions like ARDS, the plateau pressure will increase even if the lung volume remains the same.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing peak pressure with plateau pressure. Peak pressure includes airway resistance, while plateau pressure is a better measure of static lung compliance.
Sources
- Peak pressure, plateau pressure and compliance - derangedphysiology.com
- Plateau Pressure - an overview - sciencedirect.com
- High airway and alveolar pressures - LITFL - litfl.com
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