A medical respirator is used to assist patients with their breathing. They are also used regularly on air ambulance transfers. A respiratory therapist monitors the patient. An endotrachial or ET tube must first be inserted into the windpipe (trachea). The other end of it is attached to the medical respirator. An ET tube is used for patients who need to use a ventilator for a short time only. Some patients require that a surgical hole be made into their neck and a trach tube be placed through that hole. This procedure is called a tracheotomy, and the trach tube is more secure than the ET tube. Trach tubes are used for patient who needs to use a ventilator for a long period.
Insertion of the endotrachial tube can prove to be painful to a patient. Therefore, if the situation is an emergency, the patient is administered medicine to make him sleepy and to ease the discomfort. If the situation is not an emergency, insertion of the endotrachial tube is done in the operating room, and anesthesia is given to the patient to put them under. Once the breathing tube or trach tube is inserted into the patient's windpipe successfully, then the ventilator is hooked up to the patient via the breathing tube or trach tube.
The ventilator blows air or a combination of oxygen and air into a patient's lungs as is needed. The medical respirator uses a pressure called positive pressure to blow air directly into the patient's lungs. The patient then usually breathes out the air, but sometimes the medical respirator does it as well. A ventilator can be set manually to breathe a certain number of times per minute, or it can be set so that the patient can trigger it to blow air into their lungs. The medical respirator can completely breathe for the patient or just assist the patient with breathing.
Tags: trach tube, endotrachial tube, into patient, medical respirator, breathing tube