Final answer:
To manage respiratory acidosis in an ARDS patient on maximum ventilator settings, a therapist could increase ventilator rate or tidal volume cautiously, consider alternative ventilation modes like APRV or prone positioning, and assess the potential need for ECMO. To address mild hypoxemia, adjusting FiO2 or PEEP to optimize oxygen delivery, alongside pulmonary surfactant administration, may be effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
A therapist may recommend increasing the ventilator rate or tidal volume to enhance CO2 clearance, which can improve respiratory acidosis. However, this should be done cautiously in ARDS due to the risk of lung injury from higher pressures or volumes. If maximum ventilator settings are reached, considering alternative modes of ventilation, such as airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) or prone positioning, may be beneficial. Additionally, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be considered for severe cases.
Regarding mild hypoxemia, optimizing oxygen delivery may involve incrementally increasing the FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen) or applying adjustments to PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) to improve oxygenation without causing additional lung injury. Administering pulmonary surfactant and using other supportive therapies, such as proper nutritional support and ensuring temperature regulation, are also crucial.