Pulmonary ventilator. A history of future.

Abstract

In the first part of this series dedicated to Mechanical Ventilation (MV) we describe the way we usually breathe. We saw the anatomical and physiological elements that participated in the execution of each respiratory cycle, or ventilatory in a more appropriate way. We also knew the anatomical and physiological elements that can be the origin of a respiratory failure. Finally we show how human ingenuity managed to find a therapy for acute respiratory failure with the invention of MV. Before continuing it is necessary to emphasize that VM is any procedure destined to supply, partially or totally, the air flow requirements of the patient who is not able to cover them autonomously, through the use of any manual or mechanical device that makes it possible. On this occasion we are going to know, in an affordable and pleasant way for those who do not usually work with the critical patient, what are the origins and future, main characteristics and basic elements of the machines that make this therapy possible.