Which action is a treatment for air hunger in a patient receiving mechanical ventilation?

• A. Increase Flow
• B. Decrease Tidal Volume
• C. Increase PEEP
• D. Reduce FiO2

Answer: (A)

Air hunger on mechanical ventilation often comes from the patient’s demand for gas not being met quickly enough by the ventilator. If inspiratory flow is too low, the patient must generate more effort to inhale, which increases discomfort and the feeling of not getting enough air. Increasing the inspiratory flow delivers gas faster on each breath, reducing the work of breathing and the negative pressure the patient has to generate to inhale. This rapid, readily available flow helps meet the patient’s demand, improving comfort and reducing the sensation of air hunger. Other adjustments like changing tidal volume, PEEP, or FiO2 don’t address this flow mismatch as directly and can have less beneficial or even adverse effects on comfort and ventilation.