Final answer:
If a patient on time-triggered continuous mechanical ventilation stops breathing, they will continue to receive the preset rate of 10 breaths per minute. The low tidal volume alarm may sound, depending on ventilator settings, but the primary function of delivering breaths will continue.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient receiving time-triggered continuous mechanical ventilation at a preset rate of 10 breaths per minute stops breathing, the most likely scenario is that the patient will continue to receive 10 breaths per minute. This is because time-triggered ventilation does not require the patient to initiate breaths; it is a form of controlled ventilation where the ventilator provides a set number of breaths per minute regardless of the patient's spontaneous breathing efforts. Thus, option B) The patient will continue to receive 10 breaths/min is the correct answer. However, the scenario also implies that other alarms may sound depending on the specific ventilator settings for pressure and volume. If a low tidal volume were detected due to the lack of patient effort, then option C) The low tidal volume (VT) alarm will sound (if properly set) might also be expected. But the primary concern mentioned in the question is whether the patient would continue to receive the preset number of breaths per minute, which they would.