A mechanically ventilated patient is going to be placed on pressure support ventilation following an acceptable spontaneous weaning trial. The patient is a 5’9″ male who weighs 185 lb. During volume-controlled continuous mandatory ventilation (VC-CMV) his average peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was about 26 cm H2O and the plateau pressure (PPlateau) was 11 cm H2O. What initial pressure support level should be set?

Calculate the inspiratory to expiratory (I:E) ratio for a ventilator that is set to deliver 500 mL at a frequency of 15 breaths/min with a flow rate of 60 L/min.

In the simplest of terms, a is required for air to flow from the mouth to the alveoli.

While monitoring a patient during a T tube weaning trial, you notice the following: increased patient agitation; increased heart rate (from 90 to 118/min); increased respiratory rate (from 17 to 33/min with some paradoxical motion); and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) increasing to an average of 5/min. Which of the following actions would be appropriate at this time?

Which of the following drug categories can depress ventilatory drive and hinder weaning?1. Analgesics2. Narcotics3. Hypnotics4. Antibiotics

An alert patient receiving ventilatory support through a demand flow intermittent mandatory ventilation system exhibits clinical signs of an increased work of breathing whenever you try to decrease the mandatory rate below 6/min. In order to aid in weaning this patient, which of the following would you recommend?

The pathogenesis of VAP involves:1. colonization of the aerodigestive tract.2. aspiration of contaminated secretions into the lower airways.3. increased use of silver-coated endotracheal tubes.4. colonization of lower airways and lung parenchyma.

The main strategy for the management of VAP focuses on which of the following?

Which of the following cardiovascular signs would indicate that a patient’s cardiovascular status is unstable and that weaning should not begin at this time?

An alert patient receiving intermittent mandatory ventilation at a rate of 8/min and VT of 600 ml has stable vital signs and satisfactory blood gases on an FiO2 of 0.45. What would you do to initiate weaning for this patient?