A patient is receiving mechanical ventilation at the followi…

A patient is receiving mechanical ventilation at the following settings: Mode: SIMV Mandatory rate: 12 Total rate: 12 FiO2: 0.50 Vt: 750 ml Peak flow: 50 L/min PEEP: 5 cm H2O The following volume-pressure loop is observed. loop image.png Which of the following changes should the therapist recommend?

The RT performs a patient-ventilator system check on a 24-ye…

The RT performs a patient-ventilator system check on a 24-year-old, 5-foot, 10-inch male patient who has been intubated because of a drug overdose. The RT notices what appears to be swelling around the patient’s upper anterior chest and neck area. Palpation elicits a tissue paper feeling. The ventilator settings are: PC-CMV, rate 12/min with no patient assist, Peak 25 cm H2O, PEEP 5 cm H2O, FIO2 0.4, TI 1.2 s. The most appropriate action for the RT to take is which of the following?