A nurse is caring for a client with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who is orally intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation. The ventilator is set with a fraction of inspired oxygen () of 0.60 and a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 12 cm . The most recent arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis indicates a of 7.28, of 58 mm Hg, of 26 mEq/L, and of 52 mm Hg. Suddenly, the client becomes severely agitated, begins "bucking" the ventilator, and the high-peak pressure alarm sounds continuously. To reduce the immediate risk of barotrauma and physiological decompensation, which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
- AAdminister a prescribed intravenous sodium bicarbonate bolus to correct the acute metabolic acidosis.
- BReposition the client to a flat, supine position to maximize cerebral perfusion and calm the client.
- Administer the prescribed intravenous sedative to promote ventilator synchrony and reduce oxygen demand.Cevap
- DPerform a complete sequence of physical assessment, starting from the neurological system to the abdomen, to identify the etiology of agitation.
Cevap
The priority action is to administer a prescribed intravenous sedative to promote ventilator synchrony and reduce oxygen demand.
The client is experiencing ventilator asynchrony ('bucking'), which dramatically increases intrathoracic pressure and the risk of barotrauma, especially with a high PEEP of 12 cm . The ABG reveals uncompensated respiratory acidosis with severe hypoxemia. The immediate priority is to administer a prescribed sedative to calm the client, synchronize their breathing with the ventilator, and decrease systemic oxygen consumption, thereby mitigating the risk of pneumothorax and further physiological decline.
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Anahtar Kavram
In mechanically ventilated clients with ARDS and high PEEP, sudden agitation and ventilator asynchrony ('bucking') pose an immediate risk for life-threatening barotrauma. Priority risk reduction involves securing synchrony, typically via sedation, rather than delaying care for sequential assessments or misinterpreting ABG data.