What parameter is set by the therapist in pressure control (PC) ventilation?

In pressure control (PC) ventilation, the key parameter that is set by the therapist is the pressure to be delivered. This mode of ventilation is designed to limit the pressure applied to the patient's airways during inspiratory efforts, ensuring that, regardless of lung compliance or resistance, the pressure will not exceed the predetermined value.

Setting the pressure is crucial because it dictates how much pressure will be delivered to the lungs during each breath, which directly influences tidal volume but does not set a fixed volume to be delivered. Instead, the volume achieved during each breath will vary based on the patient's lung mechanics and compliance. Thus, in PC ventilation, the breath's characteristics reflect real-time physiological responses, allowing for adaptive ventilation based on the needs of the patient while maintaining the pressure limit.

The other parameters—volume, flow, and respiratory rate—are not specifically set in pressure control ventilation. The volume is dependent on the pressure and the patient's lung compliance; flow is determined automatically and can vary to achieve the set pressure, and while respiratory rate can often be set in various ventilation modes, in pressure control, the primary focus is maintaining the predetermined pressure during inhalation.