What is a disadvantage of Pressure Control ventilation?

• A. Exact control over blood gases can be maintained
• B. Stable tidal volume regardless of lung compliance
• C. Tidal volume can change with fluctuations in compliance and resistance
• D. Always leads to improved patient outcomes

Answer: (C)

In Pressure Control ventilation, a preset pressure is delivered with each breath, which can lead to varying tidal volumes depending on the compliance and resistance of the patient's lungs. When lung compliance improves or deteriorates, the volume of air delivered during each breath can fluctuate because the ventilator is programmed to maintain a specific pressure rather than a specific volume. This variability can pose significant challenges, particularly in patients with rapidly changing respiratory mechanics, as it may result in inadequate ventilation or overdistension of the lungs.

In contrast, maintaining exact control over blood gases is a benefit rather than a disadvantage, as is stable tidal volume with variable compliance, since these would typically be desirable outcomes. The assertion that Pressure Control ventilation always leads to improved patient outcomes is also not universally true, as outcomes depend on the context in which the ventilation mode is utilized. Therefore, recognizing the variability in tidal volume due to changes in lung mechanics highlights a key disadvantage of using Pressure Control ventilation.