A respiratory therapist is responding to a low pressure alarm for an adult patient on a ventilator with a 6.0 mm ET tube. What should the therapist do?

Adding air to the cuff is the appropriate action in this scenario because a low pressure alarm on a ventilator often indicates a leak in the ventilatory circuit. A common cause of this leak can be an insufficiently inflated cuff on the endotracheal (ET) tube, which allows air to escape and thus prevents the ability to maintain adequate pressure during ventilation.

By adding air to the cuff, the therapist can help create a better seal in the airway, which may resolve the low pressure alarm. This action is critical in ensuring that the patient receives the appropriate ventilatory support without the risk of inadequate ventilation due to air leaks.

Switching to a larger ET tube or a cuffless ET tube does not address the immediate problem of the low pressure alarm. Both options could introduce new complications. Scheduling a tracheotomy is not appropriate in this situation when the problem might be resolved quickly and effectively with a simple cuff adjustment. Therefore, adding air to the cuff directly addresses the situation at hand by ensuring that the ventilatory circuit maintains appropriate pressure for effective patient ventilation.