Question 1/5:
What is the first step in evaluating the cause of a ventilator alarm of hypoxia in an intubated COVID-19-positive patient?
Answer
Disconnect the ventilator and begin hand-bagging the patient.
Check the peak pressure and plateau pressure to rule out a false alarm by the ventilator.
Increase the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), following the ARDSNet guidelines for the FiO2 administered.
Check the status of the patient and the endotracheal tube.
Increase the tidal volume by 10%.
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