This week I thought important to discuss two articles that parallel in a few ways. The first article discusses the science behind ventilators and eye opening statistics. The second tells a first person account of being placed on a ventilator and the aftermath that follows. Both articles discuss how the low rate of survival of those placed on ventilators. According to the Intensive Care National Audit and Research center, 66% of patients placed on ventilators eventually die. To make matters worse, anyone placed on a ventilator has a 40% chance of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome which has a high mortality rate. All of this is risked in the hopes of giving the patient more time to fight the virus. Not only is the patient's life at risk but so is the healthcare worker intubating the patient. During intubation the virus aerosolizes and this aerosolized material remains infectious for up to 3 hours. This is a possibility when placing a endotracheal tube or when performing a tracheotomy to place someone on a ventilator. The other form of being placed on a ventilator is via a non-invasive mask that is placed over the nose and mouth of the patient. If you are one of the lucky few to survive COVID-19 after being placed on a ventilator your journey does not end there. You must face decreased lung compliance and damage to your vocal cords. I feel that it's important to become aware of what it means to be placed on a ventilator and discuss the risk that both patients and the healthcare workers must face.
- By Laura Palacio Morales