Advanced Ventilator Care
What is a Ventilator?
When you are ill, hurt, or under anaesthesia for surgery, a ventilator is a device that aids in your ability to breathe. Your lungs receive oxygen-rich air and expel carbon dioxide, a dangerous waste gas that your body must eliminate through a pipe.
Who Needs a Ventilator?
Respiratory failure is the medical term for being unable to breathe correctly on your own and is a serious emergency. Your brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs will not be able to perform as they should if they do not receive enough oxygen. A patient who goes into respiratory failure requires a ventilator.
How does a ventilator function?
A ventilator has a connected tube that enters your mouth and windpipe. To keep you sedated and more comfortable while on a ventilator, medication may be administered through an IV. Patients are unable to talk or swallow while on a ventilator.
How long does someone have to be on a ventilator?
Depending on why you require assistance in breathing, the amount of time you will be on a ventilator varies. If a ventilator is required during surgery, it is common that you will only use it while you are in a sleep-like state. This might last anywhere from a few minutes to many hours or more.
Ventilators may be a lifesaver and a critical component of medical assistance for patients of all ages, including infants and children. The length of time you require a ventilator depends on how long you require assistance breathing or how long it takes to address your underlying disease.
