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Unfortunately, my grandma in law had to use this Breathing Machine or Mechanical Ventilator as they call it, at 4am last night. During my watch, at the ICU last night, I realised abnormal breathing from her and located the Emergency Doctor at ONCE. I was to sign some agreement papers and this Ventilator came in right away. I was told that it was really a matter of a "split second" emergency, and I was glad that I didn't steal a minute sleep......otherwise, she would have been in shock.
If anyone have never seen a patient connected to a breathing machine, the information I've looked up might help understand how's it's done. It sure helps me understand more than what I've seen last night. I was sooooooo worried, but after the doctor's explanation later, I felt better. Doctors told me that due to my grandma in law's lung infection, carbon dioxide was in her more than oxygen required.
So I had to look up for some information from various sources and came to understand alot better about this Mechanical Machine.
What is mechanical ventilation?
Mechanical ventilation is a form of artificial respiration that uses a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) to assist patients with breathing. It is used when the lungs are not functioning properly.
How does the breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) work?
A breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) pushes air into the lungs. It includes controls to adjust the rate and size of each breath, a humidifier to warm and moisten the air going into the lungs, special tubing for the air to pass through, and a trap to collect unused moisture from the tubing. The breathing machine insures that adequate oxygen gets into the blood stream and carbon dioxide is exhaled.
A patient is connected to a ventilator via a tube that is inserted into the lungs via the mouth or the nose. This tube is held in place by cotton or adhesive tape and is then connected to the ventilator. There are many reasons why someone may need to be ventilated, to protect the lungs if the person is not awake enough eg after surgery or if they have had a stroke. If the patient has respiratory (lungs) muscle weakness and they are not strong enough to breathe for themselves. Or if the patient has suffered damage to their lungs from an infection or trauma.
Tubing, called breathing maching tubing or ventilator tubing, runs from the breathing machine to the breathing tube (endotracheal tube), which is inserted through the patient's mouth or nose. Sometimes the breathing machine tubing is connected to a tracheostomy tube. The breathing machine tubing, which is the larger "corrugated" tubing consists of two parts: one delivers the oxygen to be inhaled and the other part carries away the exhaled gas, including carbon dioxide. They meet at the junction with the breathing tube (endotracheal tube) or tracheostomy tube.
How long is a breathing machine used?
Usually a breathing machine is only used from few hours to a few weeks. Occasionally, a patient is required to use a breathing machine for much longer. Usage is determined by the doctor and is based on frequent assessments of the patient.
Does it hurt to be on the breathing machine?
No. The patient can feel air being pushed into the lungs, but it does not hurt.
Are there any potential complications associated with use of a breathing machine?
Patients who require breathing machine support are at increased risk to develop
| pneumonia. Occasionally, patients may develop a collapsed lung. Both of these complications require treatment.
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