Mechanical ventilation consists of a supportive method for the treatment of patients with chronic or acute respiratory failure, as it totally or partially replaces spontaneous ventilation when the individual cannot do it on their own.
The treatment can be used in conditions such as acute respiratory failure, traumatic lung injuries, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, pneumonia and other serious respiratory conditions. As it is a complex process, it requires specialized knowledge and technical skill to operate properly.
Health professionals involved in the application, monitoring and therapy through Mechanical Ventilation must have in-depth knowledge of the systemic pathophysiology that may lead to the need to implement the treatment.
The administration of treatment through Lung Ventilation includes understanding how the respiratory and cardiovascular systems work and how they are impacted during the use of ventilators. To understand more about the process.
The objective of mechanical ventilation is to assist or replace, partially or completely, the patient's spontaneous breathing. Commonly applied in cases of respiratory discomfort, situations in which gas exchange is compromised, when it is necessary to avoid fatigue of the respiratory muscles, events such as cardiorespiratory arrest or when the individual loses the ability to breathe alone (neurological injury or during surgery general anesthesia).
The therapy requires a machine that intermittently inflates the patient's lungs and airways.
The devices have several features and ventilation modes, capable of adjusting parameters such as air volume, inspired and expired pressure, flows, and breathing times according to the patient's needs and their pathology.
There are two types of mechanical ventilation: invasive and non-invasive.
Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, as the name suggests, has as an interface between the device and the patient a tube that can be inserted from the mouth to the trachea (orotracheal intubation) or through a tube directly into the patient's trachea (tracheostomy), named in this way, therefore, as it is an invasive method for the body.
Another type of ventilation is the Non-Invasive method, and in this case, the patient-device interface are facial or nasal masks that, due to their structure, have edges that perfectly adjust to the patient's face, providing a seal and keeping the air pressurized, helping to individual's breathing.
Non-invasive ventilation is commonly used in less severe situations, when ventilatory support is necessary, but the individual is still able to maintain spontaneous breathing, or even in an attempt to avoid orotracheal intubation.
It is important for healthcare professionals to understand the different modes of mechanical ventilation and how to select them appropriately for each patient based on their individual respiratory needs.
The patient under mechanical ventilation must be constantly monitored. It is necessary to monitor clinical, imaging, and other exams, so that ventilation parameters follow the development of the individual's pulmonary and systemic conditions, being adjusted according to the demand of the moment.
With the necessary knowledge and skills, healthcare professionals can provide the best possible care to patients in need of therapy.
