For a neonate with IRDS on pressure control ventilation, how can the mean airway pressure be increased?

Increasing the mean airway pressure (MAP) is crucial in managing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), particularly in cases where pressure control ventilation is being used. The correct method to achieve this is by increasing the flow rate.

When you increase the flow rate in pressure control ventilation, it enhances the volume of gas delivered during the inspiratory phase. This increase in flow leads to a higher peak inspiratory pressure and subsequently elevates the mean airway pressure throughout the respiratory cycle. The overall effect is an increase in MAP, which can improve oxygenation and lung recruitment in neonates suffering from IRDS.

Adjusting the flow rate effectively modifies the dynamics of gas delivery, which can help optimize ventilation and improve clinical outcomes in these vulnerable patients.