Why are people put on ventilators?

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The majority of COVID-19 patients experience mild symptoms. However, some patients are admitted to hospital because they have a more serious illness which may include breathing difficulties. As there is no treatment for COVID-19, they are given supportive care which aims to maintain the function of the body’s vital organs to keep the individual alive while the disease progresses and eventually resolves.

Treatments involves providing the patient with supplementary oxygen via nasal tubes or face masks or in the sickest patients using a mechanical ventilator in ICU. Complications such as hospital-acquired bacterial infections of the chest, urine or bloodstream are common during treatment in ICU, which further increase the chance of the patient dying.

Category: COVID-19