Vent alarms

high-pressure limit causes

ventilator asynchrony (pt fighting the ventillator), kink or compressed tubing (pt biting on ET tube), increased resistance (bronchospasm), decreased compliance (ARDS, pulmonary edema, atelectasis, pneumonia), coughing, secretions, gagging.

high-pressure limit interventions

Clear secretion and increase sedation, reassure the patient, unkink tubing or reposition patient, give bronchodialator, assess breath sounds, obtain CXR

low-pressure limit causes

Ventilator is paritally or completely disconnected, loss of airway, or cuff leak (pt is speaking or grunting).

interventions for low-pressure limit

Check connections, confirm ET position with CXR and confirm adequate TV. Reinflate the cuff.

causes for apnea

Respiratory arrest, oversedation, loss of airway, chang in patient condition.

interventions for apnea

Either decrease sedation, analgesics, reverse sedation or analgesia, either confirm placement of ET tube or reintubate.

low Vt (minute ventilation) causes

Change in patient’s breathing, loose connection/leak in circuit, ET tube cuff leak.

low Vt (minute ventilation) interventions

Assess respiratory and neurologic status, reduce sedation, assess vent for circuit leaks, confirm cuff is adequately inflated.

low battery/ventilator inoperative causes

Malfunction or unplugged.

low battery/ventilator inoperative interventions

Ensure mechanical ventillator is properly plugged into power source, use bag-valve mask to ventilate until machine is properly functioning.