COVID-19: Study suggests short-term ventilator sharing could be safe for patients

A recent study conducted by Columbia University of Medical Centre in Manhattan, US, reportedly found that ventilators could be safely shared by two COVID-19 patients for up to two days. Amid peak of virus outbreak, healthcare workers validated experimental method, which is followed by hospitals struggling to handle onslaught of lung failure cases with limited equipment. 

While some health experts reportedly criticised method, researchers at medical centre began having selected pairs of surgery patients with healthy lungs share a ventilator. experimental method helped hospitals free up as many machines as possible for COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, or experts said that sharing equipment could worsen outcomes. 

According to an international media report, several existing studies of ventilator-splitting suggest against it as it did t test it in patients with of lung injuries seen with COVID-19. However, as per new research involving six critically ill coronavirus patients at Manhattan hospital found that ventilator sharing was a viable option for p to two days. researchers reportedly paired up patients based on similarities in breathing needs and said that ventilator-splitting is a reasonable stopgap to support patients for short periods in centres with appropriate expertise. 

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Method recommended to be restricted to expert centres 

Dr Jeremy Beitler of hospital wrote in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine that ventilator sharing does t obviate need for more ventilators. Beitler said method could but sometimes while relocating ventilator to hospitals or transferring patients to hospital with life-saving machines. 

Furrmore, healthcare workers said that safety and utility of prolonged ventilator sharing, when ventilators or patients cant be relocated, is still unkwn. y also recommend that method, for w, should only be restricted to expert centres that could properly identify suitable patients and man ir care. 

(Im: AP)

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