The main risk of using a ventilator is infection. The breathing tube can let germs into your lungs. This can raise the risk of getting pneumonia. Sinus infections are also common if you have a mouth or nose breathing tube. The breathing tube can rub against and irritate your throat or lungs. It can also make it hard to cough. Coughing helps to get rid of dust and irritants in your lungs. Both kinds of breathing tubes pass through your voice box larynx , which contain your vocal cords.
The breathing tube can damage your voice box. Let your doctor know if you have difficulty breathing or speaking after using a ventilator. Your doctor may give you medications that help you feel more relaxed and comfortable. This helps being on a ventilator less traumatic. Those who need ventilators are often given:. These drugs often cause drowsiness and confusion.
This will wear off once you stop taking them. Additionally, you may need blood tests to check how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. If ventilation is being planned for your loved one, here are some things you can do to help make things more comfortable for them and reduce their risk of complications:.
This can happen because the muscles around your chest get weaker while the ventilator is doing the work of breathing for you. It may also be because the medications you received when using the ventilator have made your muscles weaker. Assisted Living Memory Care.
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For information about patients admitted to Sunnybrook's Intensive Care Units, please contact the unit through the hospital switchboard at Hospital Foundation Research Education. What is a breathing machine mechanical ventilator and what does it do?
The ventilator blows air into the lungs, helping to maintain proper levels of oxygen in the blood. A tube can be inserted into the mouth or nose to reach the lungs. This is called intubation. Your healthcare team can provide you with letters to send to your utility companies.
It is also helpful to keep a list of your health conditions, treatments, and medicines to give to first responders in case of an emergency.
We lead or sponsor many studies relevant to ventilators. See if you or someone you know is eligible to participate in our clinical trials and observational studies. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial.
View all trials from ClinicalTrials. Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research. Also known as Mechanical Ventilator , Breathing Machine.
The illustration shows a standard setup for a mechanical ventilator in a hospital room. The ventilator pushes warm, moist air or air with extra oxygen to the patient through a breathing tube also called an endotracheal tube or a tightly fitting mask.
Who Needs a Ventilator? The ventilator A ventilator uses pressure to blow air—or air with extra oxygen—into your lungs. Before your healthcare team puts you on a ventilator, they may give you: Oxygen through a mask Medicines to make you sleepy and to stop you from feeling pain Fluids and other medicines through your vein IV to help keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to your organs.
Ventilation with a face mask You may wear a face mask to get air from the ventilator into your lungs. There are some benefits to this type of ventilation. It can be more comfortable than a breathing tube. It allows you to cough. You may be able to talk and swallow. You may need less sedative and pain medicines. It lowers some risks, such as pneumonia, that are associated with a breathing tube.
Ventilation with a breathing tube In more serious cases or when non-invasive ventilation is not enough, you may need invasive ventilation. Watch this video to learn more about this process. Ongoing care A respiratory therapist or nurse will suction your breathing tube from time to time. What Are the Risks of Being on a Ventilator? Infections One of the most serious and common risks of being on a ventilator is developing pneumonia. Other risks Being placed on a ventilator can raise your risk for other problems, such as: Atelectasis , a condition in which your lung or parts of it do not expand fully.
This causes the air sacs to collapse, and reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your blood. Blood clots and skin breakdown. When using a ventilator, you may need to stay in bed or use a wheelchair. Staying in one position for long periods can raise your risk of blood clots, serious wounds on your skin called bedsores, and infections. Fluid buildup in the air sacs inside your lungs, which are usually filled with air. This is called pulmonary edema.
Lung damage. Pushing too much air into your lungs or using too much pressure can harm your lungs. Too much oxygen can also damage your lungs.
Babies put on a ventilator, especially premature infants, may be at a higher risk of lung damage from excess oxygen therapy and lung infections in childhood and adulthood.
Muscle weakness. Using a ventilator decreases the work your diaphragm and other breathing muscles have to do, so they can become weak. This may lead to some problems and delays in being taken off the machine. This is a condition that develops when air leaks out of your lungs and into the space between the lungs and the chest wall, and sometimes into the muscles and tissues of your chest wall and neck.
This leakage can cause pain and shortness of breath. It may cause one or both lungs to collapse. The air that enters the chest could also put pressure on your heart, resulting in a life-threatening situation that would require immediate placement of a tube in your chest to drain the air and decrease the pressure on your heart. Vocal cord damage. The breathing tube can damage your vocal cords, which could affect the passage of air into the lungs, especially in young children with smaller airways.
Tell your doctor if you experience hoarseness or have trouble speaking or breathing after your breathing tube is removed. Preparing to use a ventilator at home Before you go home on a ventilator, your healthcare team will teach you and your caregivers how to: Use and maintain your ventilator Change your trach tube regularly, if you are using one, to remove mucus from your airways Maintain the equipment needed to clear mucus and keep the airways open Recognize when there is a serious problem and when to call your doctor or for help After the training, your healthcare team will watch as you and your caregivers do all the tasks necessary to take care of you at home.
Equipment for home ventilation The type of ventilator that you may need may depend on your condition. The following steps will help keep you or your child healthy while using a ventilator at home: Keep close watch over the ventilator and respond quickly to alarms. Wash your hands often to avoid spreading germs, and avoid people who are sick.
Avoid secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke can cause life-threatening complications. Get routine vaccines recommended by your doctor and stick to your treatment plan for any other medical condition that you may have. Make sure your cellphone is charged at all times to call for help in an emergency. Follow-up care After leaving the hospital, your healthcare team will follow up regularly to make sure that your treatment is working well at home.
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