What does adjusting the PEEP on a ventilator primarily aim to achieve?

What does adjusting the PEEP on a ventilator primarily aim to achieve?

• A. Reduce respiratory rate
• B. Increase functional residual capacity
• C. Decrease oxygen demand
• D. Reduce mean airway pressure

Answer: (B)

Adjusting the Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) on a ventilator primarily aims to increase functional residual capacity (FRC) in the lungs. FRC is the volume of air that remains in the lungs at the end of passive expiration, and increasing it can improve oxygenation and ventilation efficiency. By keeping the alveoli open at the end of expiration, PEEP prevents atelectasis (collapse of lung segments), thereby enhancing gas exchange and improving the overall lung compliance. When PEEP is increased, it helps to recruit collapsed or under-inflated alveoli, allowing for a greater surface area available for gas exchange. This results in better oxygenation and a more effective distribution of ventilation. Therefore, the primary purpose of adjusting PEEP is to enhance FRC, which can be crucial in patients with conditions like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or other disorders that compromise lung function. In contrast, reducing respiratory rate pertains to the frequency of breaths delivered, which is unrelated to PEEP. Decreasing oxygen demand is influenced by various factors including metabolic rate and oxygen delivery, but PEEP primarily affects lung volumes, not metabolic activities. Lastly, while increasing PEEP can influence mean airway pressure, the main therapeutic goal of

Adjusting the Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) on a ventilator primarily aims to increase functional residual capacity (FRC) in the lungs. FRC is the volume of air that remains in the lungs at the end of passive expiration, and increasing it can improve oxygenation and ventilation efficiency. By keeping the alveoli open at the end of expiration, PEEP prevents atelectasis (collapse of lung segments), thereby enhancing gas exchange and improving the overall lung compliance.

When PEEP is increased, it helps to recruit collapsed or under-inflated alveoli, allowing for a greater surface area available for gas exchange. This results in better oxygenation and a more effective distribution of ventilation. Therefore, the primary purpose of adjusting PEEP is to enhance FRC, which can be crucial in patients with conditions like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or other disorders that compromise lung function.

In contrast, reducing respiratory rate pertains to the frequency of breaths delivered, which is unrelated to PEEP. Decreasing oxygen demand is influenced by various factors including metabolic rate and oxygen delivery, but PEEP primarily affects lung volumes, not metabolic activities. Lastly, while increasing PEEP can influence mean airway pressure, the main therapeutic goal of