What might a patient experience if their respiratory demands are not met by the ventilator?

When a patient’s respiratory demands are not adequately met by the ventilator, they may experience increased work of breathing. This occurs because the ventilator is failing to provide sufficient volume or pressure support, leading the patient to exert more effort to achieve adequate ventilation. Consequently, the patient might engage accessory muscles of respiration, exhibit increased respiratory rate, and show signs of respiratory distress.

Additionally, when respiratory demands exceed ventilator support, it can lead to hypoxia and hypercapnia, which further exacerbate the patient's condition and can lead to an overall decline in respiratory function. The body requires an adequate exchange of gases, and without it, the patient will have an increased effort to breathe to meet their oxygen needs and eliminate carbon dioxide effectively. This concept is fundamental in the management of patients on mechanical ventilation, highlighting the importance of adjusting ventilator settings according to patient needs.