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What is mechanical ventilation?
Mechanical ventilation is the use of a machine to breathe for someone. This is usually seen in a hospital intensive care unit. People may have plastic tubes coming out of their noses or mouths. These tubes may be connected to a breathing machine. This breathing machine is also called a ventilator. There are many different types of ventilators that hospitals use.
Why does mechanical ventilation need to be used?
There are two reasons why mechanical ventilation may be used. The first is for surgery. The second is when someone gets so sick that they can't breathe on their own.
With many types of surgeries, general anesthesia is used. This is when you're "put to sleep" so that you don't remember any of the operation. Usually, a ventilator breathes for you during the operation. After it's over, you may be in the recovery area breathing on your own. In some cases, you may still rely on the ventilator to breathe for you after the surgery is over. This is common in heart and lung surgeries as well as other major operations.
Sometimes, people may get sick with pneumonia. If they get so ill that they can't breathe on their own, a ventilator may be used to help them. A plastic breathing tube may be put into the mouth or nose. This tube gets connected to a ventilator, which then does all the work. In most cases, there's no way of knowing how long the patient will need the ventilator.
How does a ventilator work?
The ventilator works by pushing air into the lungs. Using a built-in computer, it mixes different levels of oxygen and pressures of air. You can also change how fast it breathes and how much air it uses. The machine pushes the air into the tube that goes to the lungs.
How long can someone be on a ventilator?
You can be on a ventilator for several hours or many years. If it looks like someone will need mechanical ventilation for more than two weeks, surgery may be done to put the breathing tube in the neck.
What are the risks?
There are some risks when the breathing tube is put into your mouth or nose. This process is called intubation. Teeth can get damaged. Bleeding and infection are also possible. The risk of injury to other organs is very small.
Another major risk involves not knowing how long you may need the ventilator. Many people don't realize that it's possible to never come off the breathing machine. Their bodies may not recover, and it may be impossible to remove the ventilator. That can be very difficult for the patient and the family.
Talk with your doctor about mechanical ventilation. Make sure to talk with your loved ones about it also. It is a very important decision.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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