What is a primary disadvantage of volume control mode in mechanical ventilation?

In volume control mode of mechanical ventilation, a set tidal volume is delivered with each breath, which can lead to limited patient-ventilator synchrony. This occurs when the patient attempts to initiate a breath but the ventilator does not respond quickly enough or at all, leading to a mismatch between the patient’s breathing effort and the ventilator’s delivered breaths. As a result, the patient may feel a sense of breathlessness or discomfort, which can hinder effective ventilation and contribute to poor patient outcomes.

The other options present valid considerations within the context of mechanical ventilation, but they are not the primary disadvantage of volume control mode. While the risk of lung over-distention is certainly a concern if the set tidal volume is inappropriately high or if compliance suddenly changes, the fundamental issue specific to volume control mode is the synchronization problem. Machine dependency refers to the reliance on the ventilatory system for every breath, which can occur in various modes of ventilation, not just volume control. Insufficient tidal volume delivery is usually more a result of improper settings or malfunction rather than a characteristic limitation of the volume control mode itself.