What is a significant con of volume ventilation?

Volume ventilation is a mode of mechanical ventilation where a predetermined tidal volume is delivered with each breath. One significant disadvantage of this approach is the risk of increased peak airway pressure.

When a fixed tidal volume is administered, the ventilator must adjust to the compliance and resistance of the respiratory system. If there are changes in lung mechanics—such as increased airway resistance or decreased lung compliance—the ventilator will attempt to deliver the set tidal volume, which can lead to a rise in airway pressure. Elevated peak airway pressures can be concerning because they may indicate overdistension of the lungs, which could lead to ventilator-induced lung injury and barotrauma. Furthermore, excessively high pressures can also impede venous return to the heart, potentially causing hemodynamic instability.

In contrast, while other options could be viewed as concerns in specific contexts, they do not represent the primary risk associated with volume ventilation. For example, while tidal volume can sometimes be increased inadvertently, that is not an inherent con of volume control but rather a potential outcome. Similarly, excessive oxygen delivery is not a direct consequence of volume ventilation itself, as oxygen concentration can be adjusted independently of the volume mode. Reduced patient comfort can occur as well, but it is often more dependent on the patient's interactions