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A low-cost field ventilator: An urgent global need
Nitish Nachiappan1, Jung Moses Koo1, Nachiappan Chockalingam2
1School of Medicine Imperial College London UK.
Health Science Reports
|August 13, 2021
Summary
Global ventilator demand outstrips supply, especially in low-income countries. Developing low-cost mechanical ventilation (MV) devices is crucial for improving patient outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs).
Area of Science:
- Medical Engineering
- Intensive Care Medicine
- Global Health
Background:
- Modern ventilators offer advanced features but face global supply shortages.
- Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) have extremely limited intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, a proxy for ventilator availability.
- Key indications for mechanical ventilation (MV) in LMICs include post-surgical care, sepsis, trauma, and neonatal complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the critical need for accessible mechanical ventilation in LMICs.
- To underscore the potential of short-term MV to improve patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.
- To outline the requirements for developing cost-effective ventilators or respiratory support devices.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ICU capacity data in LMICs as a proxy for ventilator availability.
- Identification of common indications for mechanical ventilation in LMIC ICUs.
- Review of the potential impact of widespread and timely MV access.
Main Results:
- Global ventilator availability is insufficient to meet demand.
- ICU capacity is severely limited in LMICs.
- A significant proportion of critical cases in LMICs could benefit from short-term MV.
Conclusions:
- There is an urgent need for low-cost mechanical ventilators or respiratory support devices for LMICs.
- Implementing accessible MV solutions can significantly improve patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.
- Addressing the ventilator gap in LMICs is essential for equitable healthcare delivery.
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