I read that some MDs say CPAPs can give significant respiratory support for patients with milder needs, making ventilators more available for the severely ill. There are ~300x more CPAPs than ventilators in the US. (Probably way more than that: this figure was from a couple of years ago.) This could be organized *far* more efficiently locally and statewide than nationally.
My question: from the standpoint of your training and experience, does this make sense?
they can be used as well as heated hi flow oxygen. Right now they are not being used due to the risk of aerosolizing and spreading the virus but if we run into a serious ventilator shortage i’m sure that will change
If CPAPs could do it I suspect CPAPs would be used. I am unfamiliar with CPAP machines that people use currently. In the old days we had “Bennet Machines” that were used to treat post op atelectasis and things. If they could have used Bennet machines to ventilate patients I imagine they would have as it was just a “CPAP” machine. I haven’t personally managed a vent since the old MA IIs. Modern ventilators have all kinds of bells and whistles. I read one hospital had no survivors WITH vents.
It could be just that you don’t want the doctor managing the CPAP machine trying to figure out how to “get by in a pinch” when you need the help. If I’m busy saving these twelve people who are taking up all my time on vents are you really going to ask me to figure out if I can add one more with a CPAP machine so I end up losing half of them for trying to add 1 more?