A patient with severe pneumonia is admitted to the ICU and requires mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure. After ensuring proper intubation and initiating mechanical ventilation, which of the following actions is MOST crucial?
1
Immediately starting broad-spectrum antibiotics.
2
Setting the ventilator to deliver a high rate and tidal volume.
3
Monitoring patient-ventilator synchrony to adjust settings as needed.
4
Conducting a chest X-ray to confirm endotracheal tube placement.