PSA: in medical documents, when they use the word "ventilator", they usually mean the kind that requires intubating the patient and has very precise pressure and volume control.
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Pressure on an ICU ventilator is measured in units of *tenths of a cm H20* -- that's THOUSANDTHS of psi. Those "DIY ventilator" projects that are basically a bag, a pump, and a mask? They're probably not this precise. (No calibration measurements listed, at any rate.)
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If you want to
#buildventilators to help with the COVID19 crisis you're going to have to match the specs on the kind of ventilators used for long-term care of patients with ARDS. Bag ventilators are for emergency first aid and temporary breathing support.3 replies 2 retweets 18 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @s_r_constantin
how much precision is required for which outcomes? if push comes to shove, and care is being triaged, this might be one of those "you take what you can get" situations. (speaking from no experience)
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Replying to @jancorazza
There's an escalation ladder that's already in place: oxygen masks, then intubation and ventilators if the masks don't work. Undershooting pressure means not enough oxygen, overshooting means ripping the lung.
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Replying to @s_r_constantin @jancorazza
There's "it's better than nothing" and then there's "it's the same amount effective as the thing that just failed, plus extra risk!"
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Replying to @s_r_constantin @jancorazza
Agreed there's an important difference, but do we know which it is? Oxygen masks don't mechanically ventilate at all.
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I have a post I'll put up in a bit, but for now: in a randomized study of patients with acute respiratory distress, oxygen masks & non-invasive ventilation had the same risk of needing to escalate to intubation.
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