When there is a physiologic reason for a decrease in tidal volume, the body will compensate by:

Tidal volume is a measure of the amount of air a person inhales during a normal breath. Traditional preset tidal volumes higher than 10 ml/kg have been proved to be associated with increased risk of pulmonary barotrauma and should be avoided. High tidal volumes also decrease venous return and reduce cardiac output. For patients with no significant lung disease, such as patients who have experienced drug overdose or trauma, a maximum tidal volume of 10 ml/kg should be used for mechanical ventilation. Recent studies have shown decreased mortality with the use of lower tidal volume in patients with acute lung disease. Therefore, patients with an acute lung disease such as pneumonia, ARDS, fibrotic lung disease, or COPD should be ventilated with tidal volumes of 6–8 ml/kg.

Explanation: