What might trigger a high pressure alarm during mechanical ventilation?

A high-pressure alarm during mechanical ventilation is triggered when the pressure required to deliver air to the lungs exceeds a preset limit. This scenario often indicates a problem within the patient circuit or the patient's airway.

Patient obstruction is a common cause of high-pressure alarms. This can occur due to various factors, such as increased secretions, bronchospasm, or kinked tubing, all of which can increase the resistance within the airways. When the ventilator detects that it is having to work harder to push air into the lungs because of this obstruction, the pressure significantly rises, leading to the alarm being activated.

In contrast, other options like patient disconnect or ventilator malfunction do not directly lead to an increase in pressure; instead, they might result in different alarms or indicators. Low tidal volume generally indicates a lack of air delivered, which would not increase the pressure to trigger a high-pressure alarm. Thus, recognizing patient obstruction as a key reason for high-pressure alarms is essential for troubleshooting and maintaining effective ventilation.