Vents 101 Part IV: Troubleshooting

In this episode of "Vents 101," Sara Crager delves into ventilator troubleshooting, focusing primarily on vent alarms. She distinguishes between alarms that require immediate attention, such as peak pressure and tidal volume alarms, and those that are less critical, like respiratory rate alarms. Crager explains how peak and plateau pressures relate to lung compliance and offers a systematic approach to addressing hypoxia in ventilated patients, which includes assessing the monitor and ventilator, questioning the nurse, and trying interventions like suctioning or ambu-bagging. The episode sets the stage for more advanced topics in "Vents 201" by providing a foundational understanding of ventilator management.