Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/eL_nvp4v6IY   Why is a ventilator, or a vent as we docs call it, so complicated and expensive.  Isn’t just a pump to drive oxygenated air into a patient’s lungs?   Its pump is electronically controlled to control the numbers of respirations per minute, the volume of air in each respiration, and the percentage of added oxygen.  The ventilator can assist natural breaths or control respirations completely.  For patients with severe lung infections and damage, the vent maintains some residual airway pressure between breaths.    These machines cost as much as $50, 000 each.  A clever Canadian anesthetist has created plumbing so that up to 9 patients with similar respiratory requirements may be serviced by one vent.     https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8136299/Doctors-turns-one-ventilator-nine-genius-DIY-mechanics.html   #covid19 #coronavirus #ventilator