While attending to a mechanically ventilated patient receiving VC-CMV, the therapist is alerted to a high pressure alarm in response to a decrease in the patient's lung compliance. Which of the following alarm levels would match this alarm situation?
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
D. Level 4
?ANS: C?A. Incorrect response: Level 1 events reflect immediate life-threatening consequences to a ventilator malfunction.
B. Incorrect response: Alarm events designated as Level 2 alerts can range from mild irregularities in the ventilator function to hazardous situations that could threaten the life and safety of the patient.
C. Correct response: Level 3 events often trigger the same alarms as those in Levels 1 and 2. Therefore the therapist must be capable of rapidly discerning the nature of the alarmed event. Examples of Level 3 alarms include changes in patient compliance and/or airway resistance.
D. Incorrect response: Level 4 events are not involved with the ventilator. These alarms do not affect the operation of the ventilator. These alerts originate from monitors external to the ventilator (e.g., cardiac monitors or pulse oximeters).
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