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Using Anesthesia Machines as Critical Care Ventilators During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Paul N Austin1, Richard D Branson2
1Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas. paulaustin5@gmail.com.
Respiratory Care
|March 31, 2021
Summary
Anesthesia machines can ventilate COVID-19 patients when critical care ventilators are scarce. This review covers differences, potential problems, and solutions for using anesthesia machines in critical care settings.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Respiratory therapy
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- A significant percentage of COVID-19 patients in critical care require invasive mechanical ventilation.
- Shortages of critical care ventilators prompted FDA authorization for anesthesia machine use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare anesthesia machines and critical care ventilators.
- To identify challenges and solutions for using anesthesia machines in COVID-19 ventilation.
Main Methods:
- Review of fundamental differences between anesthesia and critical care ventilators.
- Identification of common problems and mitigation strategies.
Main Results:
- Anesthesia machines can serve as a temporary solution for critical care ventilation.
- Potential issues include differences in functionality and monitoring capabilities.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the differences and potential pitfalls is crucial for safe use.
- Anesthesia providers and respiratory therapists must be aware of best practices for adapting anesthesia machines for critical care ventilation.
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