Respiratory Therapist

Answer: A - The ventilation level for a patient with a tidal volume (V_T) of 500 mL, respiratory rate of 12 bpm, alveolar ventilation of 4200 ml and dead space ventilation of 1800 ml is 6000 mL/min.

Minute ventilation is the total volume of gas inhaled or exhaled per minute. An increased depth of breathing is more effective to increase alveolar ventilation, more so than an increase in breathing rate.