The ventilator is a machine that functions to support or help respiration. Frequent ventilationtimes needed by patient who can't breathe alone, good because a disease or because injury the worst. The purpose of using this tool is so that the patient gets adequate oxygen intake.
Through a ventilator, patients who have difficulty breathing independently can be helped to breathe and get air like breathing normally. The ventilator machine will regulate the process of inhaling and exhaling on the patient. The ventilator will pump air for a few seconds to deliver oxygen to the patient's lungs, then stop pumping to let the air out of the lungs by itself.
Method Pclothes Alat Vventilator
Before placing a ventilator on the patient, the doctor will intubate to insert a special tube through the mouth, nose, or a 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 this ventilator machine is quite complicated, so its installation and arrangement should only be carried out by doctors who have the competence to treat critical patients. This device is often used in the intensive care unit (ICU), because conditions that require a ventilator are usually severe cases.
While connected to a ventilator, a patient who is still conscious cannot talk or eat through the mouth, because there is a tube that goes down the throat. However, the patient can still communicate with writing or signs.
Generally, the patient will feel uncomfortable when a tube is inserted through his mouth or nose. The patient will also sometimes fight the air exhaled by the ventilator, and make the ventilator function less effectively. In this case, the doctor will give a sedative or pain medication so that the patient feels more comfortable when connected to a ventilator.
Conditions That Make the Patient Need a Ventilator
Ventilators are generally used to assist the breathing process in patients who cannot breathe on their own. Some conditions or diseases that make the patient need a ventilator machine are:
- Severe lung problems, such as respiratory failure, ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), severe asthma, pneumonia, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and pulmonary edema (pulmonary oedema).
- Nervous system disorders causing respiratory muscle weakness, coma, or stroke.
- Heart problems, such as heart failure, heart attack, or cardiac arrest.
- Carbon dioxide poisoning.
- Disorders of acid-base balance, namely acidosis and alkalosis.
- Serious injuries, such as extensive burns and severe head injuries.
- Shock.
- Under the influence of general anesthesia, resulting in loss of the ability to breathe, for example in patients undergoing surgery.
For the record, the ventilator machine is not used to treat these conditions, but only as a device to help patients breathe. In these severe cases, medication and other treatments are needed in addition to a ventilator to cure or improve the patient's condition.
Risks of Using Ventilators
During the use of a ventilator, several side effects can occur, namely:
- Sores in the mouth and throat due to intubation.
- Lung infection, usually due to the entry of germs through a breathing tube attached to the throat.
- Lung injury and leakage of air into the cavities outside the lungs (pneumothorax).
- Loss of ability to cough and swallow, so that phlegm or mucus in the airways can accumulate and interfere with the entry of air. The doctor or nurse will perform suctioning periodically to remove this 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 small. The use of ventilators also generally requires a large amount of money. The longer the patient is treated on a ventilator, the more costs must be incurred.
Therefore, patients and their families need to understand the advantages and risks of using this machine. If you still have doubts about installing a ventilator, it is advisable to consult with the treating doctor for a more detailed explanation.
Decision to Remove Ventilator
The length of time a patient must be connected to a ventilator is unpredictable. How long the patient needs to be on a ventilator and when the patient can be separated from this device will be determined based on the development of the patient's condition and clinical assessment by the doctor.
Some patients may only be connected to a ventilator for a few days, but there are also patients who need up to months. Every day the doctor will evaluate the patient's condition, whether there has been improvement and able to breathe properly without the help of a ventilator.
During treatment, patients who are on a ventilator will receive close monitoring and regular check-ups. After showing improvement, both from the results of the physical examination and supporting examinations, such as blood tests, urine, or X-rays, the ventilator may be removed.
The use of a ventilator is necessary for the survival of patients who cannot breathe on their own. If your family has to be admitted to the ICU and requires a ventilator, you should discuss with the treating doctor to get clearer information about the benefits and risks of using this breathing machine.
Written by:
dr. Michael Kevin Robby Setyana