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Abstract
Somewhere between 30% and 89% of patients with COVID-19 admitted to a critical care unit require invasive mechanical ventilation. Concern over the lack of adequate numbers of critical care ventilators to meet this demand led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize the use of anesthesia machines as critical care ventilators. The use of anesthesia machines for ventilating patients with COVID-19 is overseen by an anesthesia provider, but respiratory therapists may encounter their use. This article reviews the fundamental differences between anesthesia machines and critical care ventilators, as well as some common problems encountered when using an anesthesia machine to ventilate a patient with COVID-19 and steps to mitigate these problems.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Paul N Austin PhD CRNA, 14311 Harvest Moon Rd, Boyds, MD 20841. E-mail: paulaustin5{at}gmail.com
Mr Branson is Editor-in-Chief of Respiratory Care. He discloses relationships with Mallickrodt Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Ventec Life Systems, Vyaire, and Zoll Medical. Dr Austin has no conflicts to disclose.
- Copyright © 2021 by Daedalus Enterprises
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Jump to section
- Article
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Fundamental Differences Between Critical Care Ventilators and Anesthesia Machines
- Excessive Water Production With Rebreathing
- Heated Humidifiers, HMEFs, and the Anesthesia Machine
- The Anesthesia Machine Ventilator
- Considerations When Using an Anesthesia Machines For Patients With COVID-19
- Potential Problems and Mitigation Methods
- Summary
- Acknowledgments
- Footnotes
- References
- Figures & Data
- Info & Metrics
- References