Which of the following changes in ventilation would typically be indicated in a patient with high PaCO2?

In a patient with high PaCO2, the body typically responds with adjustments to improve ventilation and eliminate excess carbon dioxide. One effective way to achieve this is by increasing tidal volume. Tidal volume refers to the amount of air inhaled or exhaled with each breath. By increasing it, the patient can take in a larger volume of air, which facilitates a more significant exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, thereby decreasing the elevated levels of CO2 in the blood.

Increased tidal volume can be particularly valuable in clinical situations where hypoventilation is present, leading to hypercapnia (high levels of CO2). This adjustment helps normalize the patient's ventilation status and improve overall gas exchange.

While options like decreasing respiratory rate or shortening expiratory time could potentially compromise the time available for gas exchange and might exacerbate the hypercapnia, increasing inspiratory pressure may also assist in ventilation but is often employed in specific situations rather than as a general response to elevated PaCO2. Therefore, increasing tidal volume stands out as the most direct and effective response to address high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.