A Simple Guide to Understanding Ventilators

For healthy people, breathing is the simple inhale of oxygen followed by an exhale of carbon dioxide, but for those with breathing problems due to chronic conditions or viral infections, help is needed to breathe, and ventilators are used to accomplish this. This guide will help you gain a better understanding of mechanical ventilation and its importance during the coronavirus pandemic.

What Is a Ventilator?

The name “ventilator” is often also used when talking about a respirator. However, a respirator refers to a device or mask that’s worn over the mouth and nose for the purpose of filtering out substances like bacteria and fumes from the air that’s being inhaled. In contrast, a ventilator is a device that’s been designed to help a person breathe by introducing fresh air and expelling stagnant air.

How Is a Ventilator Used?

Ventilators can be used for a number of purposes. During surgery, a patient under anesthesia will be placed under ventilation to ensure continued breathing. Ventilators are also used for patients in intensive care who are unable to breathe independently. Finally, a ventilator can also be the solution when the lungs have sustained damage and need time to recover before a patient can breathe on their own again.

Types of Ventilation

Ventilators deliver oxygen to the lungs in two ways: invasive and non-invasive. Invasive ventilation involves the insertion of a tube into the airway. This is the type of ventilation typically used in intensive care units. Non-invasive ventilation involves wearing a mask with a hose that’s attached to the ventilation unit. Non-invasive ventilation can be used at home to help with breathing.

Ventilator Importance During COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is an infection that affects the respiratory system. In some people, the virus causes inflammation in the lungs that can produce enough fluid to make breathing very difficult or impossible without assistance.

This can develop into the need for a ventilator should a patient go into what’s called acute respiratory distress, or ARDS. When this occurs, a person cannot inhale enough air to maintain healthy oxygen levels in the body. As a result, their oxygen levels drop dramatically, and breathing becomes impossible, making it necessary to mechanically ventilate.

Some COVID sufferers require breathing assistance with a ventilator for several weeks, and others may be helped by a ventilator for a month or more. Once treatment has had time to take effect and their lungs have healed, ventilation will no longer be needed.

Choosing the Right Coronavirus Ventilators

The best course of action is to conduct as much research as possible into the features of each ventilator type to see how well each product will meet your needs. It’s important to keep in mind that it may take some time to ship your ventilator order, due to the fact that they are currently in high demand due to the pandemic.

Medical Device Depot offers ventilation solutions from top brands, including Pneupac and Autovent. Browse our inventory online, or call 1-877-646-3300 for more information today.