Artificial Respiration Meaning
Artificial respiration is also known as artificial ventilation. This is a metabolic process that stimulates or assists respiration. This is a process where a complete exchange of gases is observed via external respiration, internal respiration, and pulmonary ventilation. This process is based on facilitating manual air to a person who is not able to breathe or sufficient respiration efforts cannot be handled by him. This may also be defined as mechanical ventilation where usage of the mechanical ventilator is involved to move the air out and into the lungs (the person is not able to breathe on his own). For instance, at the time of surgery, in a coma, in trauma, or a general anaesthesia condition, this therapy is used.
It means breathing induced by some of the manipulative techniques. When the natural respiration has been stopped and the heart is running or flattering, artificial respiration is applied quickly and properly to prevent people from dying due to drowning, choking, strangulation, suffocation, carbon monoxide poisoning, or electric shock. Machines of artificial respiration are also known as artificial lung ventilation machines.
Artificial respiration mainly consists of two actions, primarily to maintain and establish an open-air passage from the upper respiratory tract to the lungs, and then the exchange of air and carbon dioxide in the terminal air sac of the lungs, while the heart is still functioning.
Different Methods of Artificial Respiration
Some of the important artificial respiration methods are Schaffer’s method and Sylvester’s method.
Schaffer’s Method
In this method, the victim is made to lay on his belly, with one arm extended directly overhead and the other arm bent at the elbow. The face is turned outward and resting on the forearm. In this position, the nose and mouth are free for breathing. Now, the doctor kneels to the patient’s waist and puts his palm on the patient’s loin. The first step will be to apply the pressure by bending forward, then the doctor pushes the abdominal viscera to bring about the expiration. Pressing forward expiration takes place and the bending backwards inspiration takes place. According to some rough calculations, expiration lasts for 3 seconds and the inspiration lasts for 2 seconds. Some of the advantages of this method are its prone position, so that water from the abdomen and lungs can be easily drained,; it is a very simple method, non-tiring, and it can be continued for a long time.
This method can be applied, if there are injuries to the thorax or back. The main disadvantage of this method are that inspiration is passive and the expiration is active, which is not physiological. This method is not applied to patients with injuries in the abdomen.
Sylvester’s Method
It is the supine position, in which the pillow is given below the shoulder and the neck is fully extended. During this method, the doctor will kneel near the patient’s head, facing towards the patient. The doctor will catch the patient's wrist and by bending the doctor will pull the patient’s arms up, this will result in inspiration. Then bending forward the doctor will put deep pressure on the chest with the patient’s hand, this will cause expiration. In this method, inspiration should last for 3 seconds and expire for 2 seconds.
The main advantages of this method are that both inspiration and expiration are active, so good ventilation is obtained. And the disadvantage of this method is that there is no drainage of water from the lungs, due to the supine position of the patient, so this method should not be used in cases of drowning. This method is quite tiring, so assistance is required for this and if there is rib fracture or thorax this method cannot be applied.
Mouth to Mouth Respiration
This is one of the best methods of the artificial method of respiration. In this method, the doctor kneels near the patient’s neck facing toward him. And a pillow is placed below the patient’s shoulder so that the neck is extended fully. With the left- hand doctor closes the patient’s nostril and places the handkerchief on the patient’s mouth, and then the doctor will blow the expired air in the patient’s mouth, this will cause inspiration. When the mouth is taken away, expiration occurs passively.
The main advantage of this method is giving expired air containing carbon dioxide, which stimulates the patient’s respiratory centre, and in this good ventilation is obtained.
Artificial Respiration Machine
An artificial respiration machine is also known as a breathing machine or artificial ventilation machine. Some of the patients require help to breathe,; in such situations, this kind of machine is used to assist the function of the lungs.
The main purpose of the ventilator is to blow the air into the lungs, helping to maintain the level of oxygen in the blood. To use the mechanical ventilator, the medical team needs some form of access to the patient’s lungs. Like a tube is inserted into the mouth or nose to reach the lungs, this process is called intubation. Or, even a tube can be inserted into the opening of the windpipe, medically known as the trachea and this process is called a tracheostomy.
Artificial Breathing Devices
Once you have comprehended the introduction, definition, and methods in a detailed way, then it is time to get to know the devices used for artificial breathing devices. The reason behind it is that all these devices have a key role to play in following artificial respiration.
Different types of artificial respiration devices are used to treat different respiratory diseases according to the symptoms and condition of the patient. Some of the artificial breathing devices are mentioned below:-
Chest compression system
CPAP
CPR devices
CPR pocket mask
Demand valves and aspirators
Humidifiers
Nebulizers
Oxygen delivery devices
Oxygen regulator
Oxygen fittings
Oxygen flowmeters and selector valves
Do You Know?
Why did scientists not like the word artificial respiration? This is because respiration is a biochemical process, which takes place in the living cell and releases energy. The non-scientists call it respiration but in fact, it is just breathing. So, artificial respiration is known as artificial breathing and to be more accurate, it is termed as assisted breathing or assisted ventilation.
FAQs on Artificial Respiration
1. What do you mean ABC in CPR?
airways, B refers to the breathing, and C refers to the circulation.
A blocked airway might be responsible for hampering an individual ability to breathe. The following methods can be adapted to open blocked airways.
Tilting of the head towards the back. At the time of tilting their head, ensure to use two fingers of the other hand to raise his chin carefully.
It is a good idea to place a hand on his forehead.
Breathing provides oxygen to the body. So, it is important to check whether a person is taking a breath or not.
To determine proper breathing, the below steps are crucial:
A person needs to place his ear straightly above the patient's mouth at the same time look down at his body.
Now check the breathing signs, such as the feeling of his breath on the cheek, up and down of chest, and continue this process for around 10 seconds.
Breathing promotes the blood along with oxygen. And, it is our heartbeat that supplies this oxygen in the whole body. When tissues and organs do not get proper oxygen, they might start dying. In case, a person is not able to breathe, then it is a good idea to compress the chest as it will help restore circulation of blood in the body.
2. What will happen if cellular respiration stops?
Respiration is a vital process in all living organisms. They take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide and in return, it produces the energy required for various cellular metabolism. If there is no cellular respiration, there will be no exchange of the gas in the cell, tissue and organs will start to die. because of the lack of oxygen and deposition of carbon dioxide in the cells. So, these are the consequences that one may have due to blockage of cellular respiration.
3. How can I explain mouth to mouth respiration?
This is called one of the important methods of artificial respiration. Through this method, a doctor goes near the patient's neck and faces him in front. Now, a pillow has to be placed under the shoulder of the patient so that the neck of the patient can be extended completely. The doctor uses his left hand for blocking the nostril of the patient and uses a handkerchief on his mouth. Now, the expired air is blown in the patient's mouth that helps in inspiration.
