Western countries buy artificial lung ventilators in large quantities: due to the Covid-19 epidemic, there is a shortage of machines in Italy, Great Britain and the United States. In severe cases, such a device gives patients the best chance of survival. In simple terms, a ventilator takes over the process of providing oxygen to the body when the lungs stop working. This gives the body time to fight the disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 80% of people infected with Covid-19, which is caused by the coronavirus, recover without medical assistance. But one in six cases is severe, and in severe cases, patients have difficulty breathing.
The ventilator should only be used under the supervision of qualified medical personnel. To connect a patient to a ventilator, doctors insert an endotracheal tube into the airway. When the disease affects the lungs, the immune system responds by dilating blood vessels to allow more antibodies to enter the bloodstream. This can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and depriving the body of oxygen. To counteract this, a compressor is used to deliver oxygen-enriched air or other medical gases to the lungs. Another component of the ventilator is a humidifier, which heats and humidifies the air from the ventilator to body temperature. Patients on mechanical ventilation are given medications that relax the diaphragm and other muscles to allow the machine to fully regulate breathing. It is important to note that the device is not a means to treat and repair damaged lungs, but only to relieve the lungs so that they can recover on their own. Patients with milder symptoms may be prescribed non-invasive ventilation of the lungs using various types of masks worn on the face.
Oxygen “caps” reduce the likelihood of virus transmission. Another method used to treat patients with Covid-19 is the use of a “collar” that is placed around the patient’s neck. The collar prevents the virus from spreading into the environment through the patient’s breath. In the intensive care unit (ICU), patients with lung damage are usually connected to a mechanical ventilator as soon as possible to prevent a sharp drop in oxygen levels in the body. Dr. Shonpidon Laha of the Intensive Care Association told the BBC that the majority of COVID-19 patients will not need a ventilator, as they can be effectively treated at home with oxygen therapy.
We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of offers should remain: Episodes The end of the story: Promotional Podcasts. But sometimes a ventilator is “the only way to get oxygen to a patient,” says one doctor, despite the risks associated with its use. Doctors do not always understand which patients on a ventilator will suffer long-term consequences from the virus. Another problem is the availability of qualified doctors and health workers to operate the equipment in hospitals – there are not always enough of them. “The ventilator is a complicated beast. It can injure a patient if not set up correctly. There are complex technical aspects involved. Some people have experience using different types of fans in other areas of medicine, but to use them correctly in intensive care, they need support,” he says. Due to the rapid spread of Covid-19, many healthcare systems are unable to cope with the influx of patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Hospitals that do not have enough equipment sometimes have to make choices in favor of patients who have a higher chance of survival.