MyICUCare.org - Society of Critical Care Medicine

ventilator

Also known as a respirator. A device that assists a critically ill or injured patient who is having difficulty breathing. It mechanically pumps air into and out of the patient's lungs, mimicking the inhalation and exhalation of a healthy person. Patients are connected to ventilators by an endotracheal tube (ETT), but only after being sedated. Sedation will prevent the patient's strained breathing from interfering with the ventilator's smooth breathing. Patients are taken off of ventilators gradually as their lungs recover, and those needing a ventilator for a long period of time will often receive a tracheostomy.

Keywords

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Last modified at 9/8/2009 9:18 AM by Committee