A ventilator is a machine that functions to support or assist breathing. Ventilators are often needed by patients who cannot breathe on their own, either because of an illness or because of a severe injury. The purpose of using this tool is for patients to get adequate oxygen intake.
Through a ventilator, patients who have difficulty breathing independently can be helped to breathe and get air like normal breathing. The ventilator machine will regulate the process of inhaling and exhaling the patient. The ventilator will pump air for a few seconds to deliver oxygen to the patient's lungs, then stop pumping so that the air comes out automatically from the lungs.
How to use a ventilator
Before installing a ventilator on the patient, the doctor will intubate to insert a special tube through the mouth, nose, or hole made in the front of the patient's neck (tracheostomy). After the intubation is complete, the ventilator will then be connected to the tube.
The use of ventilator machines is quite complicated, so installation and regulation should only be done by doctors who have the competence to treat critical patients. This tool is often used in intensive care (ICU), because conditions that require ventilators are usually severe cases.
While connected to the ventilator, the patient who is still conscious cannot talk or eat by mouth, because there is a tube that goes into the throat. Even so, patients can still communicate with writing or gestures.
Generally, patients will feel uncomfortable when a tube goes in through their mouth or nose. Patients also sometimes will fight the air exhaled by the ventilator, and make the ventilator function less effective. At this rate, the doctor will give a sedative or pain medication so that the patient feels more comfortable when connected to a ventilator.
Conditions that make a patient need a ventilator
Ventilators are generally used to help the breathing process in patients who cannot breathe on their own. Some conditions or diseases that make a patient need a ventilator machine are:
- Severe lung disorders, such as respiratory failure, ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), severe asthma, pneumonia, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and pulmonary swelling (pulmonary edema).
- Nervous system disorders that cause respiratory muscle weakness, coma, or stroke.
- Disorders of the heart, such as heart failure, heart attack, or cardiac arrest.
- Carbon dioxide poisoning.
- Impaired acid-base balance, namely acidosis and alkalosis.
- Severe injuries, such as extensive burns and severe head injuries.
- Shock.
- In the effect of total anesthesia, thus losing the ability to breathe, for example in patients undergoing surgery.
For the record, ventilator machines are not used to treat these conditions, but only as a tool to help patients breathe. In these severe cases, medication and other treatments besides the ventilator are needed to cure or improve the patient's condition.
Risks of Using a Ventilator
During the use of a ventilator, side effects can occur, namely:
- Mouth and throat sores caused by intubation.
- Lung infection, usually due to the entry of germs through a breathing tube attached to the throat.
- Lung injury and air leakage to the cavity outside the lungs (pneumothorax).
- Loss of ability to cough and swallow, so that phlegm or phlegm in the airways can accumulate and disrupt air entry. The doctor or nurse will make regular suction to remove phlegm or mucus.
- Oxygen poisoning.
In addition, patients who are connected to a ventilator and have to lie down for long periods are at risk of developing pressure sores and impaired blood flow due to thromboembolism.
Although the use of ventilators has an important role in patient care, the risks are not insignificant. The use of ventilators also generally requires a large cost. The longer the patient is treated using a ventilator, the more costs must be incurred.
Therefore, patients and their families need to understand the benefits and risks of using this machine. If you are still unsure about installing a ventilator, it is advisable to consult a treating doctor to get a more detailed explanation.
Decision to Remove the Ventilator
The length of time a patient has to be connected with a ventilator cannot be estimated. How long the patient needs to use a ventilator and when the patient may be separated from this tool will be determined based on the development of the patient's condition and clinical judgment by the doctor.
Some patients may only be connected to a ventilator for a few days, but there are also patients who need months. Every day the doctor will evaluate the patient's condition, whether there has been improvement and is able to breathe well on his own without the help of a ventilator.
During treatment, patients who are attached to a ventilator will get close monitoring and regular check-ups. After showing improvements, both from the results of physical examination and supporting examinations, such as blood tests, urine, or X-rays, then the ventilator may be removed.
The use of a ventilator is essential for the survival of patients who cannot breathe on their own. If your family must be treated in the ICU and need a ventilator, you should discuss with the treating doctor to get clearer information about the benefits and risks of using this breathing machine.
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