Understanding Ventilator Support Myths, Facts and Realities

Dr. Manoj Vellanad, Consultant Neurosurgery, SUT Hospital, Pattom ​​

Ventilator support is a term that often sparks anxiety and fear among patients and their families. It is a common misconception that being placed on a ventilator is a sign of impending death. However, the truth is quite the opposite, ventilators have saved countless lives and continue to be a crucial part of modern medical care.

What is a Ventilator?

A ventilator is a life-support machine that assists or takes over the breathing process when a patient’s lungs are unable to function properly on their own, essentially helping the lungs to “breathe.”

Common Misconceptions about Ventilator Use

There are two major misunderstandings that create confusion and fear:

1. Ventilator means the patient will not survive?
   Many people believe that once a patient is put on a ventilator, they cannot recover. This is not true. Ventilator support is often temporary and helps to recovery depending on the underlying condition and timely medical
   intervention.
2. A dead body can be kept alive or prevented from decomposing by ventilator?
   This is completely false. A ventilator only supports breathing and has no impact on the functioning of other vital organs like the heart, kidneys or brain. Once a person has died, ventilator support cannot prevent natural decomposition or give the appearance of life.

   There are numerous cases of patients who have remained on ventilator support for extended periods, even up to 90 days and have gone on to live normal lives. Recovery largely depends on the severity and type of illness, the timeliness of medical treatment and the patient’s overall health.

   Lack of awareness about ventilator support leads to fear and misinformation. Just as dialysis supports failing kidneys and pacemakers support heart function, ventilators support lungs temporarily. They are not a cure, but a tool that can provide crucial time for recovery.

Important Facts to Remember

• A ventilator only supports breathing, not other organ functions.
• It can be controlled and removed based on the patient’s clinical improvement.
• A ventilator cannot preserve a dead body or hide death.
• Ventilator support is often life-saving, not life-ending.