What is Home Mechanical Ventilation?
Mechanical ventilation has been widely applied over the past 30 years due to technology advancements and protocol upgrades. Hence, it has led to an emergence of Home Mechanical Ventilation (HMV).
Home Mechanical Ventilation is defined as an intermittent or continuous use of an HMV device through a mask interface (non-invasive) or a tracheostomy tube (invasive) at home.
Non-invasive Ventilation (NIV) is normally used when oxygen levels in the blood are low and carbon dioxide levels are high. The ventilator helps you breathe out more carbon dioxide.
The term is used to describe how the ventilator (air pump) delivers air to your lungs under pressure which helps keep your airways and the air sacs in your lungs open and inflated via a face mask.
Devices for Non-invasive Ventilaton
Invasive Ventilation (IV) is normally used when full breathing support is required. The ventilator will assist spontaneous breathing and provide mandatory ventilation as required.
The term is used to describe how the ventilator delivers air to your lungs under pressure which helps keep your airways and the air sacs in your lungs open and inflated via a Tracheostomy. This is quite often prescribed as volume ventilation and can be used up to 24 hours per day.
Devices for Invasive Ventilaton
A successful application of HMV relies critically on the continuum of use and smooth transition from acute to subacute phase in hospital to home after discharge. It requires seamless coordination between medical professionals in hospital and the homecare provider at home.
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The respiratory system
The primary function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen in order for the blood to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing.
This exchange of gases is how the respiratory system gets oxygen to the blood. This is where the lungs come in.
You also need a muscle called the diaphragm – The diaphragm’s job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the lungs and pull the oxygen into the lungs. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscles that lies across the bottom of the chest cavity. As the diaphragm contracts and relaxes, breathing takes place. When the diaphragm contracts, oxygen is pulled into the lungs. When the diaphragm relaxes, carbon dioxide is pumped out of the lungs.
- Obstruction: this is where the waste gas, the carbon dioxide is not able to leave the body as it should do. If it stays in your body it can cause breathlessness and coughing.
- Muscle weakness: this is where your diaphragm does not work as well as it should to control the pumping of air in and out of your body. This means that not enough oxygen is brought into your blood cells.
Symptoms of respiratory failure
Respiratory failure is accompanied by a number of symptoms including:
- Bluish coloration of the lips or fingernails
- Confusion or loss of consciousness
- Fainting or change in level of consciousness
- Fatigue
- Irregular heart rate (arrhythmia)
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
If your family member is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, such as sudden confusion, or worsened shortness of breath not relieved by prescribed medicines, call 999 or go to your nearest hospital immediately.
Therapy of respiratory failure
The primary goal in respiratory treatment is to increase oxygenation and improve ventilation. It can also improve the life expectancy.
- Need compensation of oxygen deficiency, removal of excessive carbon dioxide in some patients
- Oxygen therapy, plus ventilation therapy in case necessary
- Need support of ventilation
- Ventilation therapy
Seeking a reliable home healthcare service provider can help patient improve the life expectancy and quality of life of patients. Celki VitalAire provides a comprehensive program for patients in order to help them regain their respiratory function based on physician’s prescription.