Question

You are ventilating an intubated​ 68-year-old male COPD patient with a​ bag-valve mask. You note that while his SpO2 remains​ stable, there is poor compliance during ventilation. What is this poor compliance likely attributable​ to?

Option 1: Bronchoconstriction
Option 2: Airway obstruction
Option 3: Pulmonary edema
Option 4: Pleural effusion

Answer 1

Poor compliance during ventilation in a COPD patient is likely due to bronchoconstriction, which leads to airway obstruction and difficulty in airflow, contributing to the sensation of poor compliance felt during manual ventilation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Poor compliance during ventilation of an intubated COPD using a bag-valve mask is likely attributable to airway obstruction, such as bronchoconstriction. In patients with COPD, the airways become obstructed due to the loss of the walls of the alveoli, decreased surface area for gas exchange, and a decrease in lung elastic recoil. As the alveolar walls are damaged, more air becomes trapped in the lungs at the end of exhalation. This trapped air causes the patient to breathe at a very high lung volume, all of which contribute to the increased resistance and decreased compliance, making it difficult for air to flow through the airways. Therefore, Option 1: Bronchoconstriction is likely the answer here, as it contributes to the sensation of poor compliance felt during manual ventilation.