Ventilator Troubleshooting

Aka: Ventilator Troubleshooting, Acute Respiratory Deterioration on Ventilator, Ventilator Alarm, Ventilator Peak Pressure Alarm, DOPE Mnemonic, DOPES Mnemonic, DOTTS Mnemonic, Auto-PEEP, Intrinsic PEEP, Dynamic Hyperinflation, Breath Stacking, Elevated Inspiratory Plateau Pressure, Hypotension in the intubated Patient

advertisement

II. Definitions

  1. Auto-PEEP (Breath Stacking, Dynamic Hyperinflation, Intrinsic PEEP)
    1. Breath Stacking occurs when inadequate expiratory time before next breath (esp. Obstructive Lung Disease)
    2. Breath Stacking builds increased intrathoracic pressure and prevents right heart filling
  2. Plateau Pressure
    1. Plateau pressures should be kept <30 cm H2O (especially in ARDS) to prevent Barotrauma
      1. Contrast with Peek pressures which reflect only the airway pressures needed to expand lung
    2. Check by depressing inspiratory hold button
      1. Measures pressure at the alveoli immediately before expiration

III. Causes: Acute Resipratory Deterioration on Ventilator

  1. DOPES Mnemonic: Acute Respiratory Deterioration on Ventilator
    1. Dislodged or displaced Endotracheal Tube or deflated cuff
    2. Obstructed Endotracheal Tube (e.g. mucous plugging, blood in tube)
    3. Pneumothorax
    4. Equipment failure (Ventilator, tubing)
    5. Stacking of breaths (incomplete exhalation in Asthma or COPD)
  2. Causes of acute Hypoxia on Ventilator
    1. Displaced Endotracheal Tube
    2. Increased airway secretions or mucous plugging
    3. Pneumothorax
    4. Pulmonary Edema (e.g. ARDS, Congestive Heart Failure)
    5. Pulmonary Embolism
    6. Atelectasis (due to Splinting)
    7. Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
    8. Bronchospasm

IV. Approach: High plateau pressure, High Peak pressure and Ventilator Alarms

  1. Heed Ventilator Alarms!
    1. Treat as critical incident that needs rapid response and evaluation
    2. If problem cannot easily be detected
      1. Disconnect Ventilator
      2. Provide bag-valve-mask PPV while troubleshooting
      3. Provide High Flow Oxygen (with PEEP Valve if needed)
  2. High peak pressure alone cannot distinguish cause
    1. Plateau pressure (press inspiratory hold) must be obtained to understand cause, and direct management
  3. High airway resistance (e.g. Asthma, mucous plugging) can result in exceeding inspiratory peak pressure
    1. The Ventilator stops ventilating and alarms immediately when peak pressure exceeds the pressure limit
    2. Pressure limit set too low for current peak pressures results in hypoventilation (with hypercarbia risk)
    3. Pressure limit typically defaults to 40 cm H2O but can be increased if peak pressure is high
  4. Plateau pressure (alveolar pressure) IS a risk of Barotrauma, NOT peak pressure
    1. To obtain plateau pressure, press and hold the "inspiratory hold/pause" button through a ventilation
  5. Plateau pressure >30 cm H2O (Barotrauma risk)
    1. Consider causes of increased plateau pressures
      1. ET in right mainstem
      2. Pneumothorax
      3. Increased Lung Volumes with alveolar overdistention (Auto-PEEP or air trapping)
      4. Abdominal Distention (or Abdominal Compartment Syndrome) with thoracic compression
      5. Decreased chest wall or Lung Compliance
      6. ARDS
      7. Congestive Heart Failure
      8. Large Pleural Effusions
    2. Decrease Tidal Volume
      1. May decrease Tidal Volume as low as 4 ml/kg
      2. Risk of hypercapnia due to decreased Minute Ventilation
      3. However, permissive hypercapnia is preferred
    3. Decrease PEEP
      1. Risk of decreased oxygenation and alveolar collapse
    4. Increase Expiratory Time (e.g. shorter breaths or slower rate, decreases Auto-PEEP risk)
      1. Decreasing Respiratory Rate may also decrease pressure if Breath Stacking (Auto-PEEP)
      2. Risk of hypercapnia
    5. Address reversible factors impeding Lung Compliance
      1. Increase Post-Intubation Sedation and Analgesia
      2. Consider chemical paralysis (e.g. Rocuronium, cistracuronium)
    6. Consider changing Ventilator mode
      1. Change Ventilator to Pressure Cycled (PC) Ventilation
    7. Pathology specific strategies
      1. Lung Injury
        1. Decrease Tidal Volume until plateau pressure <30 cm H2O
      2. Obstructive Lung (Breath Stacking)
        1. Decrease Respiratory Rate until plateau pressure <30 cm H2O
  6. Plateau pressure <30 cm H2O (despite increased peak pressure)
    1. Increased PIP with normal pPLAT reflects increased airway resistance
      1. Kinked, bitten or compressed Endotracheal Tube
      2. Obstructed Endotracheal Tube
      3. Increased airway secretions
      4. Bronchospasm
      5. Aspiration or Airway Foreign Body
    2. Reduce airway resistance (suctioning, check ET Tube position, Bronchodilators)
      1. Evaluate for Endotracheal Tube obstruction
        1. Consider kinked tubes
        2. Suction for mucous plugs
      2. Consider bronchospasm
        1. Consider additional bronchodilation for Asthma or COPD
      3. Evaluate for dessynchrony with Ventilator
    3. Consider increasing the Ventilator pressure limit (caution!)
  7. References
    1. Weingart in Majoewsky (2013) EM:Rap 13(1): 6-7
    2. Orman and Mallemat in Herbert (2015) EM:Rap 15(10): 13-16

V. Approach: Auto-PEEP (Breath Stacking, Dynamic Hyperinflation, Intrinsic PEEP)

  1. Intrinsic PEEP (Auto-PEEP) is generated by the patient and Ventilator
    1. Contrast with extrinsic PEEP that is intentionally set and generated by Ventilator
  2. Auto-PEEP occurs with Breath Stacking
    1. Inadequate expiratory time before next breath (esp. Obstructive Lung Disease)
    2. Breath Stacking builds increased intrathoracic pressure and prevents right heart filling
    3. Increased Lung Volumes result in over-stretch and secondary lung injury
    4. Patients with hyperinflated lungs are also unable to trigger a ventilated breath
  3. Check by depressing Ventilator expiratory hold button
    1. Auto-PEEP is present if the end-expiratory pressure exceeds the VentilatorPEEP setting
    2. Flow-Time waveform will remain below baseline at the end of expiration
      1. https://litfl.com/intrinsic-peep/
  4. Measures to decrease Breath Stacking and Auto-PEEP
    1. Optimize Obstructive Lung Disease (e.g. Bronchdilator nebulizer treatments)
    2. Increase expiratory time
      1. Decrease Respiratory Rate
      2. Decrease inspiratory time (increase inspiratory flow rate)
      3. Decrease Tidal Volume
    3. Decrease Tachypnea (triggered breaths) by treating pain and anxiety
      1. Ketamine 0.3 mg/kg (sub-dissociative doses)
      2. Fentanyl
      3. Benzodiazpeines

VI. Approach: Acute Respiratory Deterioration on Ventilator (categorized by peak inspiratory pressure)

  1. Peak Inspiratory Pressure Decreased
    1. Air Leak
    2. Hyperventilation
  2. Peak Inspiratory Pressure Unchanged
    1. Pulmonary Embolism
    2. Extrathoracic problem
  3. Peak Inspiratory Pressure Increased
    1. Plateau Pressure unchanged: Airway Obstruction
      1. Aspiration or Airway Foreign Body
      2. Bronchospasm
      3. Endotracheal Tube obstruction
      4. Kinked, bitten or compressed Endotracheal Tube
      5. Increased airway secretions
    2. Plateau Pressure increased (>30 cm H2O): Decreased Compliance (see management as above)
      1. Abdominal Distention
      2. Asynchronous breathing
      3. Atelectasis
      4. Auto-PEEP (inadequate expiration time with air trapping or stacked breaths, esp. Asthma)
        1. Tachypnea is primary problem with secondary excessive Respiratory Alkalosis
        2. Start by lowering Tidal Volume
        3. Consider decreasing Respiratory Rate to allow greater exhalation (reducing Breath Stacking)
        4. May also increase flow rates, to deliver Tidal Volume faster (longer expiration time)
      5. Pneumonia
      6. Pneumothorax
      7. Pulmonary Edema

VII. Approach: Hypotension in the intubated Patient

  1. Tension Pneumothorax
    1. First consideration in a newly hypotensive patient on Mechanical Ventilation
    2. Emergent Needle Thoracostomy followed by Chest Tube
  2. Auto-PEEP (Breath Stacking, Dynamic Hyperinflation)
    1. Decrease Tidal Volume
    2. Increase expiratory time by decreasing Respiratory Rate or decreasing inspiratory time
  3. Increased intrathoracic pressure
    1. Volume Resuscitation
  4. Myocardial Infarction
    1. Consider serial Electrocardiogram and Troponin

VIII. Approach: Refractory Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

  1. Indications
    1. Appropriate Ventilator settings with PaCO2 is higher than target (with pH<7.2
  2. First increase Respiratory Rate (RR)
    1. Exercise caution in Obstructive Lung Disease due to risk of Breath Stacking
  3. Correct asynchrony ("bucking the vent")
    1. Address Air Hunger (low Minute Ventilation or PEEP)
    2. Address underlying causes (e.g. pain, anxiety, Alcohol Withdrawal)
      1. Increase Post-Intubation Sedation and Analgesia
  4. Other measures
    1. Correct Electrolyte disturbance (Hypokalemia, Hypophosphatemia)
    2. Heliox (decreases lung hyperinflation)
    3. Paralysis with Neuromuscular Blockade (e.g. Rocuronium, cistracuronium)
      1. Precaution: Requires Deep Sedation!
    4. VV-ECMO

IX. Approach: Refractory Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure

  1. Precautions
    1. Avoid hyperoxia
      1. Risk of difficult weaning, worsening shock, liver failure, bacteremia, increased mortality
    2. Avoid corrective strategies that increase Breath Stacking
  2. Troubleshoot the Ventilator
    1. See DOPES Mnemonic as above
    2. See Acute Respiratory Deterioration on Ventilator above
  3. Increase oxygenation
    1. Use ARDSNet Table to increase FIO2 in conjunction with PEEP
  4. Other measures
    1. Paralysis with Neuromuscular Blockade (e.g. Rocuronium, cistracuronium)
      1. Precaution: Requires Deep Sedation!
    2. Prone Positioning
      1. As an alternative in resource limited areas, "good" lung may be positioned down (lateral decubitus)
    3. Increased inspiratory time on Ventilator
    4. VV-ECMO

X. Approach: Patient-Ventilator Asynchrony

  1. General
    1. Match the Ventilator settings to achieve patient comfort
    2. Avoid increasing sedation if possible (try first to modify Ventilator settings)
  2. High Triggering Sensitivity
    1. Decrease the Ventilator triggering sensitivity
    2. Decrease the inspiratory time
  3. Inadequate Ventilator flow
    1. Increase flow rate
    2. Change Ventilator setting to pressure control
  4. Long inspiratory time (delayed cycling)
    1. Decrease inspiratory time
  5. Short Inspiratory time (Double Triggering, Premature cycling)
    1. Increase inspiratory time
    2. Increase flow rates

XI. Approach: Trouble-Shooting Inadequate Ventilation or Oxygenation (DOTTS Mnemonic)

  1. Disconnect the Ventilator
    1. Listen over the ET Tube for hissing sound
    2. Hissing suggests release of hyperinflated air from Breath Stacking
    3. If hissing present
      1. Apply anterior chest pressure gently for 10 seconds to assist with further release of stacked air
  2. Oxygenation
    1. Connect Ambu Bag with 100% FIO2 and provide manual Positive Pressure Ventilation
      1. Attach PEEP Valve if >5 cm H2O (set to Ventilator setting)
    2. Assess Lung Compliance
      1. Difficult Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)
        1. Endotracheal Tube obstruction or airway obstruction (e.g. aspiration) OR
        2. Decreased Lung Compliance (e.g. Acute Pulmonary Edema, Pneumothorax)
      2. Easy Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV)
        1. Air leak (e.g. deflated ET cuff or dislodged tube)
  3. Tube Position or Function
    1. Compare tube position to prior reading
    2. Pass suction catheter via the Endotracheal Tube to relieve mucous plugging
    3. Assess for ETT cuff leaks
      1. Although small cuff leaks are tolerated, large cuff leaks require ETT change over exchanger
      2. Evaluate for dislodged or obstructed tubes which may also result in cuff leak
  4. Tweak the Ventilator setting
    1. Consider Breath Stacking (Auto-PEEP)
    2. Consider lowering Respiratory Rate and Tidal Volume
  5. Sonography
    1. See Lung Ultrasound for Pneumothorax (Sliding Lung Sign)
    2. See Lung Ultrasound
    3. See Blue Protocol (Lichtenstein Dyspnea Evaluation by Ultrasound Protocol)
    4. See Volpicelli Dyspnea Evaluation with Ultrasound Protocol
    5. Unclear if Ultrasound can reliably determine ET position in relation to carina

XII. References

  1. (2025) Introduction of Mechanical Ventilation, Hospital Procedures Course
  2. Hamm (2018) Fundamental Critical Care Support Course Lecture, St Paul, MN, attended 4/26/2018
  3. Marino (1991) ICU Book, Lea & Febiger, p. 368
  4. Mallemat and Swadron in Herbert (2013) EM:Rap 13(12): 11
  5. Roginski, Hogan and Buscher (2020) Crit Dec Emerg Med 34(6): 17-27
  6. Schaub, Peluso and Stull (2020) Crit Dec Emerg Med 34(9): 3-12
  7. Swaminathan and Mallemat in Herbert (2020) 20(7): 10-1
  8. Ward (2022) Emerg Med Clin North Am 40(3):473-88 +PMID: 35953212 [PubMed]

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

These images are a random sampling from a Bing search on the term "Ventilator Troubleshooting." Click on the image (or right click) to open the source website in a new browser window. Search Bing for all related images

Related Topics in Procedure

advertisement