What is mechanical ventilation?

Breathing is a spontaneous function of the body that replaces carbon dioxide for oxygen. Oxygen enters the bloodstream and moves to all parts of the body. If spontaneous breathing is interrupted due to injury or illness, mechanical ventilation can be used to restore this process. Positive pressure forces air into the lungs that are excluded or exhaled naturally when the air pressure turns off. Negative pressure creates a vacuum that forces air into the lungs. When the vacuum is stopped, there will be exhalation.

Positive pressure is the most common form of mechanical ventilation. Air pushed into the lungs is supplied by intubation. Intubation is the process of feeding a sterile tube through the nose or mouth and in the esophagus. Sedatives are used to prevent patients from combating fans that could cause lung damage. Seating can also reduce the pain and irritation of the neck or nasal passage associated with intubation.

Negative pressure is the oldest form of mechanical ventilation. Iron lungs, a huge machine that stretches from the neckTo the lower abdomen, it was first used in 1929 to treat respiratory problems. The negative pressure used to stimulate breathing extends the abdomen that can interrupt blood circulation to the lower body. Regular movement of the legs is required to stop blood association on the limbs.

iron lungs are rarely used due to the size of the machine and the inability to move the patient. However, negative pressure can be a rescue form of mechanical ventilation. Biphasic Cuirass is a modern form of iron lungs used in patients who cannot or should not be intubated. The Cuirass machine works with the same negative presemically as iron lungs, but is much smaller and lighter.

Mechanical ventilation should be a short -term treatment. Respiratory, lung and pneumonia injuries are risks associated with forced breathing. Patients are often shut down by artificial breathing slowly by means of spontaneous respiratory experiments to zosoThey impressed whether the lungs would function properly without ventilation.

If necessary, mechanical ventilation can continue with proper medical care. Patients using iron lungs at the age of 40 of the 20th century usually remained in the machine for one or more years. The longer the patient uses artificial respiration, the heavier it will be to regain spontaneous breathing.