Upon receiving a low-volume alarm on a ventilator, what should the therapist examine first?

When confronted with a low-volume alarm on a ventilator, examining the function of the exhalation valve is critical because this component plays a vital role in maintaining proper ventilation. The exhalation valve allows for the release of exhaled air from the patient back into the ventilator circuit. If the exhalation valve is not functioning correctly or is stuck, it can lead to incomplete exhalation, resulting in insufficient tidal volumes being detected by the ventilator, thereby triggering a low-volume alarm.

Addressing the exhalation valve first allows the therapist to rule out one of the most likely causes of the alarm condition. If the exhalation valve is operating correctly, the therapist can then proceed to investigate other potential issues, such as checking the endotracheal tube for kinks or occlusions or looking for kinks in the pressure lines. However, the exhalation valve is often the most immediate area of concern when dealing with an alarm related to volume delivery.