The respiratory therapist is called to the bedside of a patient mechanically ventilated in the VC-CMV mode because the low pressure, low exhaled tidal volume, and low exhaled minute volume alarms all have activated
Which of the following could be the cause of this situation?
a. Patient biting the endotracheal tube
b. Rupture of the endotracheal tube cuff
c. Slipping of the endotracheal tube into the right mainstem
d. Plugging of the airways by airway secre-tions and mucus
ANS: B
With rupture of the ET tube cuff, volume escapes the system rather than being delivered to the patient. This activates the low pressure alarm and eventually leads to activation of the low tidal volume and low minute volume alarms. All the other options would activate the high pressure alarm.
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