In proportional assist ventilation, what is the relationship between patient effort and ventilatory support?

In proportional assist ventilation, what is the relationship between patient effort and ventilatory support?

• A. More effort results in less support
• B. Less effort results in more support
• C. More effort results in more support
• D. The level of support is constant regardless of effort

Answer: (C)

In proportional assist ventilation, the unique feature is that the level of ventilatory support provided is directly proportional to the patient’s effort. This means that when a patient exerts more effort in breathing, they receive an increased level of ventilatory assistance that corresponds to that effort. This relationship promotes a more natural breathing pattern and encourages the patient to participate actively in their own ventilation. The system detects the patient’s effort and adjusts the support delivered accordingly, allowing for dynamic interaction between the mechanical ventilator and the patient. This is advantageous as it reduces the work of breathing while also promoting patient comfort and lung mechanics, ultimately aiding in the weaning process. In contrast, other options suggest relationships that do not reflect this dynamic interaction of support based on patient effort, either implying a fixed amount of support regardless of effort or an inverse relationship, which does not accurately describe how proportional assist ventilation operates.

In proportional assist ventilation, the unique feature is that the level of ventilatory support provided is directly proportional to the patient’s effort. This means that when a patient exerts more effort in breathing, they receive an increased level of ventilatory assistance that corresponds to that effort. This relationship promotes a more natural breathing pattern and encourages the patient to participate actively in their own ventilation.

The system detects the patient’s effort and adjusts the support delivered accordingly, allowing for dynamic interaction between the mechanical ventilator and the patient. This is advantageous as it reduces the work of breathing while also promoting patient comfort and lung mechanics, ultimately aiding in the weaning process.

In contrast, other options suggest relationships that do not reflect this dynamic interaction of support based on patient effort, either implying a fixed amount of support regardless of effort or an inverse relationship, which does not accurately describe how proportional assist ventilation operates.