Medical ventilation is a life-saving technique that involves the use of equipment such as respirators and ventilators to help patients who are unable to breathe on their own due to illness or surgery. These devices provide a mix of air and oxygen or medication to the patient through breathing tubes and take over the breathing function, allowing the body to rest and heal.
There are several parameters that can be set on a medical ventilator to meet the specific needs of the patient. Controlled volume refers to a measured amount of air being directed to the patient’s lungs, which can be adjusted based on the body’s needs. Controlled pressure involves providing air to the patient until a specific pressure limit is reached, with the pressure constantly monitored and adjusted. The dual parameter combines both pressure and volume control.
There are two types of medical ventilators: invasive and non-invasive. Invasive ventilators, also known as mechanical ventilators, fully take over the patient’s breathing and require the insertion of a tube through the airway or tracheostomy. These ventilators can use either positive pressure, which forces air into the lungs through a tube, or negative pressure, which uses the expansion and contraction of the chest to inhale air into the lungs. Non-invasive ventilators, on the other hand, do not require any tubes and are commonly used in hospitals, healthcare wards, and operating rooms. They come with masks and use positive airway pressure to force air into the lungs, reducing the respiratory effort needed for breathing. There are several types of non-invasive ventilators, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), auto-titrating (adjustable) positive airway pressure (APAP), and bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP). Non-invasive ventilation has been shown to provide similar physiological and medical benefits to conventional mechanical ventilation, including reduced work of breathing and improved gas exchange.
