What risk may occur with volume cycled ventilators?

Volume-cycled ventilators deliver a predetermined volume of air to the lungs with each breath. This can lead to high intrathoracic pressures, especially if the lungs are stiff or if there is resistance in the airways, which is a common issue in patients with certain pulmonary conditions. When the ventilator forces a specific volume into the lungs, it may create pressures that exceed the normal physiological limits, potentially causing barotrauma or affecting venous return to the heart due to the increased pressures within the thoracic cavity.

While decreased oxygenation, increased respiratory rate, and ventilator synchrony failure can occur in various scenarios of mechanical ventilation, these issues are more related to other aspects of ventilator management or patient condition rather than a direct consequence of the mechanics of volume cycling. The focus on high intrathoracic pressures highlights a key risk associated specifically with the mechanics of volume-cycled ventilation.