Asked by Ankit Bansal on Jul 07, 2024
Verified
The nurse is caring for a patient on a mechanical ventilator and the low-pressure alarm sounds.Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) Assess for secretions in the airway and suction the patient.
B) Administer a sedative to the patient to prevent coughing.
C) Assess the endotracheal tube cuff to make sure it is deflated.
D) Check the ventilator tubing and reconnect if disconnected.
Mechanical Ventilator
A machine that supports or takes over the breathing process for patients who are unable to breathe adequately on their own.
Low-Pressure Alarm
An alert mechanism on medical devices, such as ventilators, indicating that air or fluid pressure has fallen below a pre-set threshold, potentially signaling a problem or leak.
Endotracheal Tube Cuff
A balloon-like structure on an endotracheal tube, which, when inflated, provides a seal between the tube and the trachea to maintain airway support during anesthesia or critical care.
- Evaluate arterial blood gas results along with pulse oximetry measurements to ascertain the success of oxygen therapy settings for patients receiving mechanical ventilation.
- Exhibit comprehension in ensuring the accurate placement of an endotracheal tube in individuals on mechanical ventilators.
Verified Answer
HZ
hanyun zhangJul 13, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
The low-pressure alarm sounds when the ventilator has no resistance to inflating the lung.The patient may be disconnected from the ventilator,or a leak may have developed in the ventilator circuit.The high-pressure alarm sounds when the ventilator has met resistance to delivery of the tidal volume.This may result from coughing,increased secretions,or biting on the endotracheal tube.The cuff of the endotracheal tube is inflated to create a seal for positive-pressure ventilation.A cuff that is leaking could cause the low-pressure alarm to sound.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluate arterial blood gas results along with pulse oximetry measurements to ascertain the success of oxygen therapy settings for patients receiving mechanical ventilation.
- Exhibit comprehension in ensuring the accurate placement of an endotracheal tube in individuals on mechanical ventilators.