How does vent rate effect heart rate?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

Why would increasing the vent rate from 12 to 14 cause the heart rate to increase from around 50 to 60? The SpO2 was 98% the entire time.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Theoretically, respiratory alkalosis and increased intrathoracic pressure cause tachycardia and tachyarrythmias. But within the numbers you gave I suspect that very well might be just a coincidence.

Respiratory Alkalosis: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm with KatieMI- coincidence.

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

Thank you. I can't argue with success - the pulse is now in an acceptable range - but I can't explain why increasing the respiratory rate worked.

It may well be coincidence.

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