Artificial respiration, also known as ventilatory support, involves manually or mechanically assisting or stimulating respiration in a person who is either not breathing or is breathing inadequately.
The goal is to ensure adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide when the body's natural respiratory efforts fail.
Key Methods of Artificial Respiration
1) Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation
An emergency technique where a rescuer breathes into the victim's mouth to inflate their lungs, providing them with oxygen.
Procedure: The rescuer first checks for airway obstructions and may use the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver to open the airway before giving breaths.
2) Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) Ventilation
A hand-held device is used to provide positive pressure ventilation for a patient who is not breathing or breathing inadequately.
Usage: Requires training to ensure that air is directed into the lungs and not the stomach.
3) Mechanical Ventilators
Machines used in hospitals for critically ill patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
Function: These ventilators control the volume of air, pressure, and breaths per minute, customized to the patient's needs.