A malfunctioning exhalation valve on a ventilator can cause which significant issue?

A malfunctioning exhalation valve on a ventilator typically leads to a situation where the valve does not open properly during the exhalation phase of the respiratory cycle. This leads to a leak that prevents the normalization of pressures during inspiration. In a properly functioning ventilator, the exhalation valve opens to allow expired air to escape, creating a negative pressure that enables the ventilator to deliver the next breath effectively. When the valve fails, air may not be cleared from the circuit adequately, hindering the generation of the necessary inspiratory pressures and affecting the overall performance of the ventilator.

This malfunction can also impact tidal volume and oxygen saturation levels, but those issues are typically secondary consequences rather than the immediate and most significant issue caused by a stuck exhalation valve. The inability to deliver medication, while possible in some scenarios, is not the primary consequence associated with this specific malfunction.