Air Methods Critical Care Practice Exam

Pressure Control Ventilation (PCV) is a mode of mechanical ventilation where the pressure delivered to the patient's lungs is constant throughout the inspiratory phase. This means that the ventilator is set to a specific pressure level, and it maintains that pressure for the duration of the inspiratory effort, which allows for variability in tidal volume based on the lung compliance and resistance of the patient.

When the ventilator is set to deliver a certain amount of pressure, the resulting tidal volume can fluctuate depending on the patient's lung mechanics. If a patient's lungs are more compliant, they will likely receive a larger tidal volume at that same preset pressure compared to a patient with stiffer lungs. Therefore, the correct understanding of Pressure Control Ventilation is that it prioritizes maintaining a predetermined pressure rather than a fixed tidal volume, resulting in different volumes being delivered based on the individual patient's respiratory mechanics. This mechanism is particularly useful for managing patients with varying degrees of lung disease.

In contrast, the concept of maintaining a constant tidal volume, as mentioned in other options, does not apply in this mode of ventilation. PCV is not primarily designed for patients who can breathe independently, and it does not guarantee a specific tidal volume; rather, it adapts to the changes in patient condition.