How does being on a ventilator cause someone on it to have organ damage? I thought ventilators are just supposed to help you breathe?
In: Biology
When a healthy person takes a breath, air is pulled into the lungs (negative pressure). Your body grows and functions based on that negative pressure in your chest. It affects not only your lung function, but also has significant impact on your heart and circulation.
Ventilators are designed to PUSH air into the lungs (positive pressure). This switch changes the way your lungs accept and release oxygen and carbon dioxide. But positive pressure also puts unnatural strain on your heart and circulation. This can lead to heart failure. An impaired circulatory system (heart, arteries, veins, etc.) has trouble keeping blood pressure from going to high or too low. Blood pressure that is too high or too low can very quickly and very seriously injure any (or all) major organs in the body.
In addition to positive pressure-related complications, bed rest (required for ventilators) can lead to overall physical deterioration. Medications required to maintain patient safety and comfort while on a ventilator can stress organs. Also, whatever got them sick or injured enough to need the ventilator in the first place can contribute to multiple organ failure.
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