A patient who has a decrease in lung compliance due to acute respiratory distress syndrome dur-ing volume-limited ventilation will cause which of the following?

a. Increased volume delivery
b. Increased peak pressure
c. Decreased flow delivery
d. Decreased peak pressure

ANS: B
When a patient is being ventilated in a volume-limited mode the ventilator will maintain the volume, which will remain unchanged, along with the flow, but the pressure will vary with changes in lung characteristics. A decrease in lung compliance will cause the amount of pressure needed to overcome elastance to increase. This will increase the peak pressure needed to deliver the set volume. Flow and volume will remain constant.