Final answer:
To address air-trapping in a COPD patient on assist-control ventilation mode, increasing the inspiratory flow rate and decreasing the assist-control rate are recommended interventions. Decreasing "E" time would worsen air-trapping, hence the correct answer is C) II and III.
Step-by-step explanation:
To correct the problem of air-trapping in a COPD patient receiving ventilatory support in the CMV assist-control mode, we must consider changes that will allow adequate expiration time and reduce the likelihood of air being trapped in the lungs due to obstructed airways.
Increasing the inspiratory flow rate would allow the same volume of air to be delivered over a shorter period, thus extending the expiratory time (E time) and potentially reducing air-trapping. Decreasing the assist-control rate would also lead to an increase in the time available for expiration, as each breath would have a longer cycle time allowing more time for exhalation.
However, decreasing "E" time would be counterproductive as it would shorten the expiratory phase, which could exacerbate the air-trapping issue. Therefore, the recommended actions to correct air-trapping would be to increase the inspiratory flow rate and decrease the assist-control rate. The correct answer to the question would be C) II and III, which indicates that increasing the inspiratory flow rate and decreasing the assist-control rate are appropriate interventions.