A mechanically ventilated patient has just experienced a life-threatening ventilator malfunction. How should the therapist record this equipment malfunction?

A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
D. Level 4

?ANS: A
A. Correct response: A Level 1 event describes immediate life-threatening consequences to a ventilator malfunction. The expectation for a Level 1 alarm is that it will warn of every event in time for prompt corrections.
B. Incorrect response: A Level 2 event is a ventilator malfunction that is not immediately life threatening to the patient.
C. Incorrect response: A Level 3 event is a patient event affecting the ventilator-patient interface.
D. Incorrect response: A Level 4 event is a patient event not affecting the ventilator-patient interface.