How does a ventilator work?
The ventilator works by pushing air into the lungs. Using a built-in computer, it mixes different levels of oxygen and pressures of air. You can also change how fast it breathes and how much air it uses. The machine pushes the air into the tube that goes to the lungs. How long can someone be on a ventilator? You can be on a ventilator for several hours or many years. If it looks like someone will need mechanical ventilation for more than two weeks, surgery may be done to put the breathing tube in the neck. What are the risks? There are some risks when the breathing tube is put into your mouth or nose. This process is called intubation. Teeth can get damaged. Bleeding and infection are also possible. The risk of injury to other organs is very small. Another major risk involves not knowing how long you may need the ventilator. Many people don’t realize that it’s possible to never come off the breathing machine. Their bodies may not recover, and it may be impossible to remove the ventilat
