In spontaneous/timed (ST) mode, how must the high and low-pressure alarms be set?

In spontaneous/timed (ST) mode of noninvasive mechanical ventilation, setting the high and low-pressure alarms is crucial for patient safety and effective ventilation. The preferred practice is to set these alarms at a margin of +/- 5 cm H2O from the prescribed pressure levels. This setting allows adequate monitoring of the patient’s respiratory effort and ensures that any significant deviation from the expected pressure thresholds, whether due to patient effort or equipment malfunction, will trigger an alarm.

Setting the alarms too narrowly may lead to frequent nuisance alarms, which could desensitize care providers to genuine alerts. Conversely, setting the alarms too broadly may delay response times to critical changes in the patient’s condition. Therefore, a +/- 5 cm H2O margin strikes a balance, allowing for natural variations in breathing patterns while still providing a timely warning in cases of significant changes or potential issues with the ventilator or patient.

In contrast, other suggested margins, such as +/- 3, +/- 7, or +/- 10 cm H2O, would not align with standard practices for effective patient monitoring and response.