Anesthesia Technician Practice Exam

An elevation in the baseline of a CO2 monitor could likely indicate which of the following?

1. Effective ventilation

2. Faulty expiration valve on the ventilator

3. Insufficient hydration in the patient

4. Increased system pressure

The correct answer is: Faulty expiration valve on the ventilator

An elevation in the baseline of a CO2 monitor is primarily indicative of insufficient or ineffective ventilation. When CO2 is not being adequately expelled from the lungs, the concentration of CO2 in the exhaled gas will increase, leading to a higher baseline on the monitor. This situation can arise from various factors, including malfunctioning equipment. In the scenario provided, a faulty expiration valve on the ventilator would prevent adequate exhalation of CO2. If the expiration valve does not close properly or if there is an obstruction, it would lead to CO2 being trapped in the ventilatory system, raising the CO2 levels detected by the monitor. This is crucial because a significant elevation in CO2 can have serious physiological implications, reflecting respiratory failure or inadequate ventilation. Other options imply conditions that do not directly correlate with a rise in the baseline reading of a CO2 monitor. For instance, effective ventilation would likely produce a normal or low baseline CO2 level, reflecting successful elimination of CO2. Insufficient hydration is not directly linked to CO2 levels, and increased system pressure might indicate other mechanical issues rather than being a definitive cause of elevated CO2 monitoring results.