What's a Ventilator and What Does It Do?

3. For Surgeries

A ventilator is typically used when a person is under general anesthesia for surgery. Since the sedative medications disrupt breathing, the machine helps ensure that the patient continues breathing throughout their procedure. Medical staff usually remove the ventilator before the person wakes up, once the anesthesia wears off and they can breathe on their own. Depending on the type of surgery, a patient may require a ventilator for a few hours to a few days post-surgery. Most people only need it for a short time. After surgery, many people do not know they were put on a ventilator except for the side effect of a slightly sore throat.