Mechanical ventilation, a cornerstone of respiratory care, is a life-saving intervention that assists or replaces spontaneous breathing. Primarily used in intensive care units (ICUs) but also in transport or homecare, it supports patients with acute respiratory failure or severe chronic lung conditions.
Mechanical ventilators deliver controlled breaths through an endotracheal tube (invasive ventilation) or noninvasive interfaces like masks (NIV ventilation), ensuring adequate oxygenation and carbon dioxide (CO2) removal.
Flow sensors play a crucial role in accurately delivering the right amount of gas, breath by breath and assure a precise gas mixing of air and oxygen. These sensors enable precise adjustments of respiratory rate, tidal volume, and pressure settings, ensuring optimal gas delivery.
Despite the life-saving benefits, mechanical ventilation can lead to complications such as lung injury, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and other complications like infections. Hence, healthcare providers strive to wean patients off mechanical ventilation as soon as possible to facilitate a return to spontaneous breathing. Manufacturers offer sophisticated ventilation modes enabled by fast flow sensors to improve patient outcomes.
