During the current pandemic of the coronavirus, the government has approved the use of ventilators for COVID-19 patients. The UK government approved the ventilator Penlon’s Prima ESO2, and hundreds of these units are expected to be delivered to hospitals next week. By the beginning of May, up to 1,500 units will be made weekly. In the meantime, Smiths of Luton has delivered several ParaPac ventilators to wards.
Patients with serious respiratory problems or those undergoing surgery often are connected to a ventilator. These patients may be given sleep medicine to stay comfortable during their stay. This allows their bodies to rest and heal. A ventilator is not a cure for COVID-19, but it can be a lifesaver. Patients on a ventilator are often unable to eat, drink, or communicate normally. Having a breathing tube is a burden and requires adequate resources.
If you need to use a ventilator for breathing support, your doctor may recommend a machine that helps you breathe. A ventilator tube connects to an external machine that blows air into your lungs. Sometimes, the ventilator can also perform breathing, helping to hold air sacs open. Doctors also monitor your heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure to make sure your respiratory system is working properly. They may also draw your blood to check your oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
When patients get better, they can be weaned off of a ventilator. The process begins gradually, removing the ventilator until the patient can breathe without it. If weaning is successful, the doctor may decide to take the patient off the ventilator for a trial period and try again if necessary. In rare cases, patients may require ECMO (external cardiac output) to get off the ventilator.