The respiratory device, also called the ventilator, is used in the treatment of chronic respiratory insufficiency. Long-term mechanical ventilation at home is very important in the treatment of respiratory insufficiency. Breathing apparatus is widely used, especially in terms of chest wall and neuromuscular diseases. Two types of respiratory support are given to the patient through the ventilator used in ALS patients.
Non-invasive mechanical ventilation: Use of a respiratory support device only with the aid of a mask without opening the hole in the patient's respiratory tract
Invasive mechanical ventilation: The use of a breathing apparatus that will provide respiratory support by opening a hole in the respiratory tract, ie tracheostomy, by means of a cannula placed in the hole
Determination of home-type invasive mechanical ventilation device
The MV parameters for the patient's respiratory system must be determined
The power source of the breathing apparatus should be explained.
The desired alarm and warning systems in the respiratory device should be determined and the alarm limits should be set in the most appropriate way. In other words, systems such as power cut, oxygen deficiency, high pressure, battery power, charge level should be in the desired form if the patient leaves the device.
A spare ventilator should be provided with the breathing apparatus and it should be possible to use the spare breathing apparatus as soon as the problem is solved.
Patients should be tested for at least 48 hours with this respiratory device in the hospital or intensive care unit, as the type and parameters of the respiratory device that will be appropriate for the patient are determined by a specialist neurologist or chest physician in this area.
In this process, it is possible for the device to be suitable for the patient and for the patient to adapt to the device. Although the parameters detected in patients are applied, sometimes problems may arise in different respiratory devices. For this reason, more than one breathing apparatus may need to be tested. In cases where respiratory support at home is to be applied, the family doctor and the nurse who follows the patient can make a more successful application.