Compliance normal value is?

Compliance normal value is?

• A. 6-10 mL/cm H2O
• B. 60-100 mL/cm H2O
• C. 60-100 L/cm H2O
• D. 60-100 mL/cm H2O

Answer: (D)

Compliance is how much air volume changes for a given change in airway pressure—the distensibility of the lungs and chest wall. For a healthy adult, the static compliance of the respiratory system is about 60–100 mL per centimeter of water pressure (mL/cm H2O). This means that a 1 cm H2O increase in pressure tends to move roughly 60–100 mL of air into the lungs. Values much lower, like 6–10 mL/cm H2O, indicate stiffer lungs or chest wall and aren’t normal. Using liters per centimeter (L/cm H2O) would imply an unrealistic, incorrect unit scale. Therefore, the normal value is 60–100 mL/cm H2O.

Compliance is how much air volume changes for a given change in airway pressure—the distensibility of the lungs and chest wall. For a healthy adult, the static compliance of the respiratory system is about 60–100 mL per centimeter of water pressure (mL/cm H2O). This means that a 1 cm H2O increase in pressure tends to move roughly 60–100 mL of air into the lungs. Values much lower, like 6–10 mL/cm H2O, indicate stiffer lungs or chest wall and aren’t normal. Using liters per centimeter (L/cm H2O) would imply an unrealistic, incorrect unit scale. Therefore, the normal value is 60–100 mL/cm H2O.