What are the consequences of having increased airway resistance in pressure cycled ventilation?

In pressure cycled ventilation, the ventilator delivers a set pressure over a specified duration. When there is increased airway resistance, it affects how air flows into the lungs during each respiratory effort. This increase in resistance can lead to variable tidal volumes because the pressure reached during inspiration may not consistently translate to the same volume of air delivered into the lungs.

As airway resistance rises, such as from bronchoconstriction, increased secretions, or obstructions, it becomes more difficult for the ventilator to push air into the lungs, potentially resulting in fluctuations in how much air is actually delivered with each breath. Thus, while the pressure is maintained, the volume achieved may differ based on the changing resistance, leading to inconsistent tidal volumes with each cycle.

Other options suggest outcomes that would not typically occur with increased airway resistance; for instance, consistent tidal volume or no impact on tidal volume can be misleading because they imply that resistance has no effect, which is not the case.