Monitor the patient¡¯s blood pressure every 2 to 4 hours, especially after ventilator settings are changed or adjusted. Mechanical ventilation causes thoracic-cavity pressure to rise on inspiration, which puts pressure on blood vessels and may reduce blood flow to the heart; as a result, blood pressure may drop. To maintain hemodynamic stability, you may need to increase I.V. fluids or administer a drug such as dopamine or norepinephrine, if ordered.

High levels of inspiratory pressure with PSV and PEEP increase the risk of barotrauma and pneumothorax. To detect these complications, assess breath sounds and oxygenation status often. To help prevent these conditions, use the lowest pressure level for ventilator-delivered breaths and adjust the level as tolerated.