Ventilator Support
A ventilator takes over breathing while the lungs or the illness underneath recover. It is support rather than a treatment, and everything about how it is used is organised around coming off it as early as it is safe to do so.
- Support, not treatment in itself
- Sedation kept as light as possible
- Readiness to wean assessed daily
- Physiotherapy while still ventilated
Stay
Days to weeks
Duration
Until breathing recovers
Anaesthesia
Sedation throughout
About Ventilator Support
A tube is placed into the windpipe under sedation and connected to a ventilator, which delivers breaths at set pressures and volumes. Settings depend on the underlying problem. Sedation is kept as light as the patient tolerates, because deep sedation lengthens the time on the ventilator, and a daily assessment tests whether they are ready to breathe alone.
- Sedation is kept light because deep sedation prolongs ventilation
- Readiness to wean is tested daily, not estimated
- Physiotherapy happens while still ventilated
- Prolonged ventilation sometimes leads to a tracheostomy
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about ventilator support. Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest ventilator support.
- Severe respiratory failure not responding to non-invasive support
- Loss of consciousness with an unprotected airway
- Severe sepsis or shock
- After major surgery in some cases
- Severe head injury
- Cardiac arrest after resuscitation
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Intubation
A breathing tube is placed under sedation, and its position confirmed. This takes a few minutes and the patient is unaware of it.
Setting the ventilator
Pressures, volumes and oxygen are set for the specific lung problem, and adjusted using blood gas results.
Daily assessment
Sedation is lightened each day and breathing tested, to see whether the patient is ready to take over.
Extubation
Once they can sustain breathing, the tube is removed. A sore throat and weak voice afterwards are expected and settle.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Ventilation is nearly always started as an emergency
- Family should bring medical history and a medication list
- Ask about the daily update time
- Expect the patient to be sedated and unable to speak while the tube is in
- Talking to a sedated patient is encouraged, as hearing is often preserved
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- Weaning is gradual, and a step back for a day is common rather than a setback
- A sore throat and hoarse voice after extubation are normal and settle over days
- Breathing and swallowing muscles are weak and take time to recover
- Prolonged ventilation sometimes leads to a tracheostomy, which makes weaning easier
- Rehabilitation continues on the ward and at home for weeks to months
Why choose Humayun for ventilator support
Time on a ventilator should be as short as safety allows, and that depends on daily discipline rather than equipment.
- Sedation kept light, because deep sedation measurably lengthens ventilation
- Readiness to wean assessed every day rather than when somebody remembers
- Physiotherapy while still ventilated, which limits the weakness that follows
- Tracheostomy considered at the right time rather than late for patients needing prolonged support
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