Question 1

how long can you live on a mechanical ventilator?

Accepted Answer

60+ years: In some cases people can lives years or decades on a ventilator.  One can potentially live their whole life on a ventilator and die from other causes.

Question 2

is it possible to live on a ventilator forever with respiratory failure?

Accepted Answer

No one lives forever: One could live many years on a ventilator with a tracheostomy (hole in the neck) depending on the cause and other factors, but its not without its complications, and quality of life must come into play.

Question 3

can it be possible for you to live on a ventilator with respiratory failure forever?

Accepted Answer

Long term...: There are patients who do live on ventilators for prolonged periods of time, even many years! The length of time a patient can live on a ventilator depends on many factors including the reason for the ventilator, diseases in other organs besides the lungs, etc. There are places that care for patients on ventilators long-term. Hope this answers your question!!

Question 4

what does a ventilator do?

Accepted Answer

Ventilator: A machine that provides assistance   with breathing. And in some cases breathes for the ill patient, when they are unable to.

Question 5

can ventilators be used over again?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Ventilators are machines that breathe for patients when they are unable to do so for themselves. The machine can be cleaned after each patient use and used again. The tubing that connects the patient to the machine is single-use, and contains a viral/particle filter to limit contamination of the machine.

Question 6

i need to know what is ventilator asynchrony?

Accepted Answer

Patient-ventilator: I am sure the one you are talking about is when the patient is taking breaths and the ventilator is pushing pressure or air. It results in increased pressures in the lungs and can cause barotrauma. (there is also that one that we use separate ventilation for each lung.) we want the patient breath and the ventilator breath to recycle and synchronize with each other. Space too short to fully explain.

Question 7

anyone know what is a non-invasive ventilator?

Accepted Answer

BIPAP: Basically, it's a ventilator that doesn't require a tube inserted into your wind pipe.

One common example is bipap.

Question 8

what happens after someone is taken off a ventilator?

Accepted Answer

Breathes on own: Ventilator 'breathes' for you. If taken off, you are on your own ! if you are not treated yet of the primary disease condition, lungs may not be able to sustain and you might die.

Question 9

do you always have to have a trach when on a ventilator?

Accepted Answer

No, often not: You only need a ventilator with a trach if there is a problem with the lungs, or with the brain telling the lungs to breath.  There are many people with trachs who don't need ventilators, and do fine without them.

Question 10

does being put on a ventilator mean you are going to die ?

Accepted Answer

Maybe not.: People are placed on ventilators for several reasons.  Some patients are too sleepy to breathe (as in an overdose of medications), and are supported briefly on ventilators.  However, they are also used for severe lung and heart diseases when breathing fails.  Sometimes the underlying disease is treatable, and sometimes not.  Really depends on why the person is on the machine.  Talk to the doctor.

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Doctor answers about:

How long can you live on a ventilator

A member asked:

How long can you live on a mechanical ventilator?

A member asked:

Is it possible to live on a ventilator forever with respiratory failure?

A member asked:

Can it be possible for you to live on a ventilator with respiratory failure forever?

A member asked:

What does a ventilator do?

A member asked:

Can ventilators be used over again?

A member asked:

I need to know what is ventilator asynchrony?

A member asked:

Anyone know what is a non-invasive ventilator?

A member asked:

What happens after someone is taken off a ventilator?

A member asked:

Do you always have to have a trach when on a ventilator?

A member asked:

Does being put on a ventilator mean you are going to die ?

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