How is tidal volume affected in pressure control ventilation?

In pressure control ventilation, tidal volume is influenced by the mechanics of the respiratory system, which encompasses elements such as lung compliance and resistance. When a clinician sets a specific pressure level to be maintained during inhalation, the actual volume of air that is delivered (the tidal volume) can change based on how easily the lungs can expand and how much resistance is present.

For instance, if a patient has compromised lung compliance due to conditions like ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), the same pressure level will allow less volume to be delivered compared to a patient with normal compliance. Thus, the variability in respiratory system mechanics directly affects the tidal volume in this mode of ventilation.

In contrast, in other ventilation strategies, such as volume control, the tidal volume remains fixed irrespective of changes in lung mechanics, which illustrates a key difference and highlights why option B is the accurate choice.