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 is artificial respiration and in which situations is it required?
Artificial respiration, also known as artificial ventilation, is a method used to assist or stimulate breathing in a person who is unable to breathe on their own or is breathing inadequately. It is a life-saving procedure required in emergencies such as drowning, suffocation, electric shock, carbon monoxide poisoning, or during medical procedures like surgery under general anaesthesia.
2. What are the main manual methods of artificial respiration?
There are several manual methods designed to provide artificial respiration. The primary methods include:
- Sylvester’s Method: The patient lies on their back, and their arms are pulled above their head to cause inspiration and then pressed against the chest to cause expiration.
- Schaffer’s Method: The patient lies on their stomach, and pressure is applied to the lower back to force air out of the lungs (expiration), with inspiration occurring passively when pressure is released.
- Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation: The rescuer blows exhaled air directly into the patient's mouth to inflate their lungs, providing both oxygen and a carbon dioxide stimulus for the respiratory centre.
3. What are some common devices used for providing artificial respiration?
Various medical devices are used to provide mechanical or assisted ventilation, depending on the patient's condition. Common devices include:
- Mechanical Ventilators: Machines that take over the work of breathing by pumping air into the lungs, often used in hospitals for critical care.
- CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machine: Delivers a steady stream of pressurised air to keep the airway open, commonly used for sleep apnea.
- Ambu Bag (Bag-Valve-Mask): A manual, handheld device used by rescuers to pump air into a patient's lungs.
- CPR Pocket Mask: A simple mask that allows a rescuer to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation without direct contact.
4. How does artificial respiration differ from CPR?
Artificial respiration and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) are related but distinct procedures. The key difference is their focus. Artificial respiration specifically aims to restore breathing by ventilating the lungs. In contrast, CPR is a more comprehensive emergency procedure that combines rescue breaths (artificial respiration) with chest compressions. CPR is performed when a person has no pulse and is not breathing, aiming to restore both lung function and blood circulation.
5. How does artificial respiration physiologically support a person who has stopped breathing?
Physiologically, artificial respiration works by mechanically forcing air into the lungs, mimicking the natural process of inhalation. This ensures that oxygen reaches the alveoli, where it can diffuse into the bloodstream. By maintaining oxygen supply to the blood, it prevents hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in vital organs, especially the brain, which can suffer irreversible damage within minutes. This external support keeps the body oxygenated while giving the patient's own respiratory system a chance to recover and resume normal function.
6. Why is the mouth-to-mouth method often considered an effective first-response technique?
The mouth-to-mouth method is effective for two main reasons. First, it directly inflates the victim's lungs with air. Second, the rescuer's exhaled air, while lower in oxygen than atmospheric air, contains a higher concentration of carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide can act as a powerful natural stimulant for the victim's respiratory centre in the medulla oblongata of the brain, potentially helping to jumpstart spontaneous breathing.
7. Why do scientists sometimes prefer the term 'artificial ventilation' over 'artificial respiration'?
Scientists often prefer the term 'artificial ventilation' because, in a strict biological sense, respiration refers to the chemical process that occurs inside living cells (cellular respiration) to produce energy (ATP). The physical act of moving air in and out of the lungs is more accurately termed ventilation or breathing. Therefore, 'artificial ventilation' is a more precise description of the mechanical process being performed.
8. What happens at a cellular level if a person's breathing stops and is not restored?
If breathing stops, the supply of oxygen to the body is cut off. At the cellular level, this means there is no final electron acceptor for the electron transport chain in aerobic respiration. As a result, cells can no longer produce ATP (energy) efficiently. They may briefly switch to anaerobic respiration, leading to a buildup of lactic acid and a drop in cellular pH. Without a restored oxygen supply, cellular machinery fails, leading to widespread cell death and subsequent organ failure.
