What effect can a sensitivity setting that is too low have on ventilation?

A sensitivity setting that is too low can lead to difficulty in patient-ventilator synchronization. This occurs because when the sensitivity is set too low, the ventilator may not respond appropriately or quickly enough to the patient’s spontaneous breathing efforts. As a result, the patient may experience delays in the delivery of breaths or may not trigger the ventilator at all, leading to a mismatch in the timing between the patient’s own breathing and the ventilator's delivered breaths.

This poor synchronization can cause the patient discomfort, increased work of breathing, and potential fatigue. When the ventilator fails to recognize the patient's efforts, it can disrupt the natural rhythm of breathing, causing frustration for the patient and potentially compromising their ventilation and comfort.

In this context, while issues like inadequate oxygenation or barotrauma can arise from other factors such as improper settings or patient conditions, the specific problem linked to an excessively low sensitivity setting is primarily the synchronization between the patient and the ventilator. Elevated static compliance is unrelated to sensitivity settings; rather, it reflects lung mechanics and the ability of the lungs to expand.