Expert: Kimberlee Bates Date: 3/23/2008 Subject: Looking for Hope
Question My father had his lung removed because of Lung Cancer and now he has been on a ventilator for about 6 weeks now. Four of the weeks the hospital kept him so sedated that it seemed as if he was in a coma. Now, at a nother facility they are having trouble getting my dad off the ventilator.
Is it possible to get off a ventilator after so much time has gone by?
Answer This would depend upon any pre-existing lung complications that he may have (i.e., COPD,etc) as well as his age. The younger the patient is the better.
The respiratory therapist would have to do certain ventilatory changes as the patient tolerates that would build up tolerance of the other lung to do the work of both.
