BKAT Critical Care Practice Exam 2025 – The All-In-One Guide to Mastering Critical Care Proficiency!

The condition that could increase central venous pressure (CVP) due to positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is related to high inspiratory pressure. When PEEP is applied during mechanical ventilation, it increases intrathoracic pressure, which can lead to impaired venous return to the heart. This increased pressure within the thoracic cavity can cause more blood to pool in the great veins and reduce the effective volume returning to the heart, subsequently raising the CVP.

In addition, elevated inspiratory pressure can lead to a decrease in cardiac output due to decreased preload, which again can raise CVP as the heart struggles to accommodate venous return under the sustained intrathoracic pressure. Thus, in this context, high inspiratory pressure and PEEP can contribute to the elevated CVP observed clinically.

Factors such as myocardial infarction, hypovolemia, and septic shock influence the overall hemodynamic status; however, they do not directly relate to the mechanism of increased CVP specifically due to the application of PEEP.