Dec 21, 20171 min
Making the choice about mechanical ventilation for yourself or a loved one is not easy. This brochure provides information to help when thinking about mechanical ventilation.
What is Mechanical Ventilation?
Mechanical ventilation is the use of a machine to support breathing. Its purpose is to:
Assist a person having difficulty breathing, or
Try to restore breathing because a person has stopped breathing or lost the ability to breathe on his/her own
Mechanical ventilation is done by placing a tube in the airway (through the nose or mouth) and into the lungs. The tube is then connected to a machine called a ventilator, or breathing machine. Sometimes people can use a face mask connected to a breathing machine instead of a tube in the airway.