Airway Pressure Low
- Usually set at 10 cmH2O
- Causes (hover over to see the necessary Tx vs mix&match)
- Disconnection/leak in the ventilator circuit
- ETT cuff leak
- Low pressure limit inappropriately set higher than the monitored peak inspiratory pressure
- Management
- Check circuit connection sites
- Check ETT position on CXR to ensure correctly placed
- Check cuff inflation pressure
- Adjust low airway pressure alarm if necessary
Airway Pressure High
- Usually set at 35 cmH2O
- Causes (hover over to see the necessary Tx vs mix&match)
- High airway resistance or poor lung compliance
- Circuit kinked
- Patient dyssynchrony or coughing
- Set TV is inappropriately high resulting in high pressures
- Management
- Check circuit and ETT patent
- Adjust ventilation settings if necessary or consider increasing sedation
