True or False: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion is stimulated by positive pressure ventilation.

The assertion that antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion is stimulated by positive pressure ventilation is grounded in physiological responses to changes in intrathoracic pressure and volume status. Positive pressure ventilation can lead to increased intrathoracic pressure, which may trigger baroreceptors and cause a response that includes the release of ADH from the posterior pituitary gland.

ADH, also known as vasopressin, functions primarily to promote water reabsorption in the kidneys, thus regulating body fluid osmolarity and maintaining vascular volume. When intrathoracic pressure rises during positive pressure ventilation, it can interfere with venous return and may lead to reduced effective circulating volume. In response, the body compensates by secreting ADH to conserve water and maintain blood pressure and volume.

This physiological mechanism underscores the relationship between ventilation strategies and hormonal regulation, demonstrating that the body's endocrine responses can be influenced by mechanical ventilation methods used in critically ill patients. Thus, the assertion is true, as ADH secretion is indeed stimulated by positive pressure ventilation.