A patient on a ventilator receives a specific tidal volume that maintains open alveoli with each breath. However, some alveoli collapse due to a failure to sustain Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP). This phenomenon is known as:
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✓ Correct answer: C. Cyclic atelectasisAnswer: Cyclic atelectasis Cyclic atelectasis is when a patient takes an inspiratory breath, causing the alveoli to open, but the alveoli are unable to maintain their open position with exhalation, immediately collapsing. This cycle repeats with each breath, potentially leading to both local and systemic inflammation within the lung. In ventilated patients, PEEP is used to prevent alveolar collapse during expiration and is most effective when combined with a set tidal volume to maintain alveolar recruitment during exhalation. Auto-PEEP is a physiologic event often seen in mechanically ventilated patients, particularly those with acute severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or those on inverse ratio ventilation. Physiological atelectasis is not an accurate term, as atelectasis is not a natural physiological process. Pathological atelectasis refers to any atelectasis caused by a disease process or bodily change.
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