If a ventilator is not delivering the set tidal volume, what should the respiratory therapist do?

In the scenario where a ventilator is not delivering the set tidal volume, the most appropriate action is to first troubleshoot the issue rather than remove the ventilator from service without further evaluation. The therapist's priority should be to ensure the patient is adequately ventilated.

Cycle the ventilator off and then back on can sometimes reset the system and resolve minor glitches that may affect tidal volume delivery. Obtaining an arterial blood gas (ABG) can provide valuable information regarding the patient's ventilation status, helping to determine whether immediate ventilation adjustments are necessary. Adjusting the tidal volume without understanding the underlying cause of the discrepancy may not address the real issue and could jeopardize patient safety.

Removing the ventilator from service prematurely could lead to unnecessary delays in care and could put the patient at risk if they are not stable enough to tolerate such an interruption in mechanical support. Therefore, the best approach is to diagnose the issue systematically rather than disconnect the ventilator from service.