A physician wants to apply high PEEP levels of 20 cm H₂O to a patient receiving VC in the assist-control mode. Which of the following would you recommend in order to minimize the effect of the high-level PEEP on this patient's cardiovascular system?
1) Decrease the expiratory time
2) Switch the patient to the control mode
3) Switch the patient to the SIMV mode
4) Insert chest tubes on both sides