Will the surgery require the use of a ventilator?
Disease description:
My friend has kidney stones and has decided to go to the hospital to have surgery to break them up. I heard that a ventilator might be used during the surgery and would like to ask if this is necessary.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Ren Yi
Whether a ventilator is needed during surgery mainly depends on the type of surgery, the patient's health condition, and the type of anesthesia used.
Patients undergoing general anesthesia do require ventilator support. This is because, under general anesthesia, patients are unable to breathe independently. A ventilator ensures adequate oxygen supply, prevents cerebral hypoxia, and also reduces the difficulty of the surgical procedure. For minor or local anesthesia procedures, a ventilator may not be necessary. However, even in these cases, a ventilator is always available in the operating room to handle potential emergencies, such as respiratory depression or arrest.
Furthermore, critically ill patients, such as those with severe pneumonia, may require ventilator assistance even if they are not undergoing surgery. If patients experience respiratory dysfunction during surgery, such as excessively fast or slow respiratory rates, or inadequate depth of breathing, timely ventilator support is necessary to correct respiratory function and maintain stable vital signs.
