What is one reason for using pressure support ventilation?

Using pressure support ventilation is primarily aimed at decreasing the work of breathing for patients. This mode of ventilation provides a preset level of pressure during inhalation, which assists the patient in drawing in a breath, thereby reducing the effort required to initiate and maintain ventilation. This is particularly beneficial for patients with respiratory muscle fatigue or those who may be struggling to breathe effectively due to conditions such as COPD or acute respiratory distress.

In contrast, increasing the work of breathing would not be a goal of any ventilatory support strategy, as it would lead to further fatigue and potentially worsen the patient's condition. Furthermore, complete sedation of a patient is not a primary goal of pressure support ventilation; in fact, this approach typically allows for some level of spontaneous breathing and collaboration with the ventilator. Additionally, while pressure support can be useful for patients with chronic lung disease, it is not limited to them and can be beneficial for a variety of situations where respiratory support is required.