A medical ventilator is a mechanical device that supports ones lungs when they aren’t functioning adequately. You might need ventilator support when you find it difficult to breathe on your own or your lungs are impaired. 

Ventilator support is usually used in intensive care units (ICUs), where a doctor or respiratory therapist uses the machine to assist the breath of the patient and simultaneously control the amount of oxygen delivered into the patient's lungs. 

This article discusses what a ventilator is, when and for how long it is needed, how it works, and patient care during ventilation.

What is a Ventilator Support?

Before knowing the critical health conditions when you need ventilator support, let's learn what is ventilator support. 

A medical ventilator or respirator support means patient being put on a machine that helps them breathe. A ventilator gently pushes air (with or without oxygen) in and out of the lungs with the settings done by the doctor as per the  body’s requirement.

The patient might wear a fitted mask, or a breathing tube might be inserted down his throat into the wind pipe to help the lungs get breath from the ventilator. Most often used in ICU settings, the critical care team sets the number of breaths, the breath's size (amount of volume or pressure) and percentage of oxygen in the ventilator. 

When Do You Need the Ventilation Support?

Mechanical ventilation support is usually needed following a breathing emergency, surgery, or traumatic accident. 

Respiratory failure occurs when a patient finds it difficult to breathe properly by himself and, thus, is categorized as a life-threatening emergency. The heart, liver, brain, kidneys, and other body parts require constant oxygen supply to function properly. Otherwise, your body will not be able to work as it should. In case of respiratory failure, a ventilator can provide your vital organs with the oxygen required to function properly.

Health conditions Requiring Ventilation Support

You might need ventilation support when suffering from the following health conditions that make it difficult for your body to absorb oxygen or remove carbon dioxide:

• Brain injury
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Asthma 
• Cardiac arrest
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Stroke
• Pneumonia
• Coma or loss of consciousness
• Drug overdose
• Upper spinal cord injuries
• Myasthenia gravis
• Hypercapnic respiratory failure
• Collapsed lung
• Lung infection
• Gullain-Barre syndrome
• Sepsis, blood infection
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Premature lung development (in infants)

Ventilator Support After Surgical procedures

 One might require ventilator support if the surgical procedure involves administering general anaesthesia to the patient. It is because general anaesthesia can lower the consciousness level and also paralyze the muscles, including vocal cords and muscles within the chest wall. Thus, one might have trouble breathing adequately on his own and end up requiring support from an artificial breathing machine.

How Long Does a Patient Need to Be on a Ventilator?

The length of time a patient needs to be on a ventilator depends on his health condition or breathing requirement. 

If you need to be on a ventilator for a health condition that makes breathing difficult, you might need the artificial breathing machine support for hours, days, weeks, or longer. The duration depends on how long your lungs take to function properly on their own.

However, if you need ventilation support during surgery, healthcare professionals will put you on a ventilator only till you are in a sleep-like state. They usually remove the patient from the ventilation support once the surgery ends. The time length could range from less than an hour to several hours.

How Does a Ventilator Work?

Different types of ventilation machines provide varying levels of breathing support according to your health condition. Typically, a ventilation machine uses air pressure to gently push oxygenated air into your lungs and remove carbon dioxide. 

Ventilators push oxygen into the patient's lungs in two ways- a fitted face mask or a breathing tube.

• Face mask (full face/ helmet/ nasal pillows)

The non-invasive ventilation method involves assisted ventilation using a fitted face mask. The patient's mouth and nose is covered with a fitted plastic/ silicone mask. The tube connected to the face mask is connected to the ventilator on the other end  through which the air (with or without oxygen) is gently pushed into the patient's lungs. 

This ventilation method is optimal for patients suffering from less severe breathing issues. 

• Breathing tube

It's an invasive ventilation method wherein a breathing tube is inserted by the physician into the wind pipe via throat and vocal cords, for patients with severe breathing difficulty. This ventilation method might require sedating the conscious patient because the procedure can be uncomfortable.

The breathing tube's other end is connected to the ventilator, which forces air into the patient's body to provide sufficient breaths while he heals from illness or injuries.

Patient Care During Ventilator Support

Patient care during ventilation entails preventing skin irritation and infection while a patient is on a ventilator. Such patients are often always in the ICU and require constant monitoring.

A healthcare professional uses a tape or strap to keep the breathing tube in place and change it when it is dirty. In addition, care should be taken to prevent oral /lip pressure ulcers or sores. With a fitted full face mask care should to be taken to prevent pressure ulcer over the nasal bridge.

Nursing staff also frequently performs mouth care. When a face mask is fitted, or a breathing tube is inserted for a long time, the patient's mouth can often get dry. So, it's necessary to clean and moisten the patient's mouth to prevent the protect the teeth and prevent harmful bacteria from entering the lungs and causing pneumonia. 

Final Words

Ventilators are artificial breathing machines that can provide breath and oxygen a patient's body needs to function properly. Although ventilator support can't treat a health problem, it can do the breathing work for you while you recover from a medical condition, injury, or illness. Therefore, these lifesaving machines are vital to treatment support for individuals of all age groups.