Final answer:
Pressure-controlled ventilation is the recommended mode of ventilatory support for severely hypoxemic patients with ARDS.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mode of ventilatory support that I would recommend for a severely hypoxemic patient with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is pressure-controlled ventilation (option C).
In pressure-controlled ventilation, the ventilator delivers breaths with a set maximum pressure. This mode can help improve oxygenation and reduce the risk of lung injury in patients with ARDS. By limiting the peak pressures, pressure-controlled ventilation protects the lungs from excessive strain.
Options A (continuous positive airway pressure), B (high VT volume-cycled ventilation), and D (bilevel pressure support by mask) may not be as effective in improving oxygenation and may increase the risk of lung injury in severely hypoxemic patients with ARDS.