Multiple Mechanical Ventilation: historical review and cost analysis

Abstract

In times of crisis in public health where the resources available in the hospital network are scarce and these must be used to the fullest, innovative ideas arise, which allow multiplying the use of existing resources, as artificial mechanical ventilators can be. These can be used in more than one patient, by attaching a device to distribute the mixture of air and oxygen from the ventilator being used simultaneously (multiple mechanical ventilation). This idea, although innovative, has generated controversy among the medical community, as many fear for the safety of their patients, because attaching such devices to the ventilator loses control over the mechanical ventilation variables of each patient and can only maintain general vigilance over the ventilator. These misgivings about the device have led several researchers to take on the task of verifying the reliability of this flow splitter connector. It is for this reason that this article presents a thorough review of the studies carried out on the subject and additionally shows an analysis of comparative costs between the acquisition of a mechanical ventilator and the flow division system.