What should be monitored if a child experiences increasing respiratory distress on a home ventilator?

Monitoring ventilator function is critical when a child experiences increasing respiratory distress on a home ventilator. The ventilator is responsible for delivering the appropriate breaths and maintaining adequate ventilation. If the ventilator is malfunctioning, it could lead to inadequate oxygen delivery or improper airway pressures, exacerbating the child’s respiratory distress. Issues such as disconnections, leaks in the system, or settings that are incorrectly adjusted can severely impact the effectiveness of ventilation, leading to a rapid deterioration in the patient's condition.

In the context of respiratory distress, while monitoring other factors such as heart rate and oxygen saturation is important, these may provide information on the child's overall status and response to ventilatory support. However, ensuring that the ventilator is operating correctly is fundamental; if the ventilator is not functioning properly, no amount of monitoring other vitals will ameliorate the immediate risk of hypoventilation or respiratory failure.