Artificial Ventilation/Life Support

Artificial ventilation is the process of supporting respiration by manual or mechanical means when normal breathing is inefficient or has stopped.

For some life limiting conditions artificial ventilation can still be a palliative treatment. i.e. care that alleviates symptoms and distress.

For many conditions artificial ventilation can be invaluable, sometimes permanently but for others at night time or intermittently. It can alleviate fatigue related to breathlessness.

Contacts

British Lung Foundation	73-75 Goswell Road London EC1V 7ER 020 7688 5555 Helpline: 08458 50 50 20	Information on Non Invasive Ventilation
Motor Neurone Disease Association	PO Box 246, Northampton NN1 2PR 01604 250505	MND Association~ial ventilatio There are a series of leaflets on this topic (numbered 14A to 14E).

Review date: December 2011

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