Which of the following is a potential effect of patient-ventilator dyssynchrony?

Patient-ventilator dyssynchrony occurs when there is a mismatch between a patient's breathing efforts and the mechanical ventilator's timed breaths. This situation can lead to increased work of breathing because the patient may have to exert more effort to initiate breaths or may fight against the ventilator's settings. This struggle can result in fatigue and discomfort, leading to increased oxygen consumption and stress on the respiratory muscles.

In such scenarios, the overall respiratory mechanics become inefficient, which can worsen the patient's clinical situation. Increased work of breathing is a significant concern as it can lead to further respiratory compromise and may result in the need for escalated respiratory support or changes in ventilator settings to achieve better synchrony.

On the other hand, the other potential effects mentioned are generally not associated with patient-ventilator dyssynchrony. For example, decreased heart rate, reduced oxygen demand, and lower blood pressure are not typical outcomes of this mismatch; instead, they may be influenced by other factors such as sedation, hemodynamic status, or metabolic demands. Therefore, recognizing the effect of dyssynchrony on the work of breathing is crucial in critical care settings to ensure optimal ventilation and patient comfort.