What measurement is typically closely monitored to assess compliance during mechanical ventilation?

Monitoring compliance during mechanical ventilation primarily involves observing plateau pressure. Plateau pressure reflects the pressure within the lungs at the end of inspiration when no airflow is occurring. It is significant because it provides insight into the lungs' ability to expand; if the plateau pressure is high, it indicates potential issues like decreased lung compliance, which can occur in conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or pulmonary edema.

By assessing plateau pressure, healthcare providers can determine if adjustments need to be made to the ventilator settings, such as increasing inhalation pressures or changing lung protective strategies. This measurement is crucial not just for the management of the ventilatory support but also for preventing ventilator-induced lung injury by ensuring that the pressures used during mechanical ventilation are kept within safe limits.

Other measures like tidal volume and minute volume, while important for understanding ventilation and oxygenation, do not directly indicate how compliant the lungs are. Inspiratory pressure can indicate the pressures required to deliver a set tidal volume but does not provide a direct measurement of lung compliance as plateau pressure does.