In breath trigger sensitivity, increasing sensitivity makes triggering occur more easily. Which statement is accurate?

• A. Not specified
• B. True
• C. False
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (B)

Breath trigger sensitivity is about how easily the ventilator detects patient effort to start a breath. Increasing sensitivity lowers the threshold for detecting that effort, so even a small inspiratory effort will trigger a breath. In other words, the more sensitive the trigger, the easier it is for the patient to initiate ventilation. This can reduce the patient’s work of breathing, but if set too sensitive it can cause auto-triggering from circuit leaks or movement. Because of this, the statement that increasing sensitivity makes triggering occur more easily is true.