What Are the Risks of Being on a Ventilator?

Infection

One of the most serious and common risks of being on a ventilator is pneumonia. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is linked to the breathing tube that’s put in your airway when you’re on a ventilator.

The tube may make it easy for bacteria to get into your lungs. It also makes it hard for you to cough. Coughing is important for helping to get rid of bacteria.

VAP is a major concern for people using ventilators because they’re often already very sick. Pneumonia may make it harder to treat their original disease or condition.

VAP is treated with antibiotics. You may need special antibiotics if the VAP is due to bacteria that are resistant to standard treatment.

Another risk of being on a ventilator is sinus infection. This is more common in people who have an endotracheal tube. (This tube is put into your windpipe through your mouth or nose.) Sinus infections are treated with antibiotics.

Other Risks

Using a ventilator also can put you at risk for other problems, such as:

• Pneumothorax (noo-mo-THOR-aks). This is a condition in which air leaks out of the lungs and into the space between the lungs and the chest wall. This can cause pain and shortness of breath, and it may cause one or both lungs to collapse.
• Lung damage. Pushing air into the lungs with too much pressure can harm the lungs.
• Oxygen toxicity. High levels of oxygen can damage the lungs.

These problems may occur because of the forced airflow or higher levels of oxygen from the ventilator.

Using a ventilator also can put you at risk for blood clots and serious skin infections. These problems tend to occur in people who have certain diseases and/or who are confined to bed or a wheelchair and must remain in one position for long periods.

Another possible problem is damage to the vocal cords from the breathing tubes. If it’s hard for you to speak or breathe after your breathing tube is taken out, let your doctor know.