The Hard Truth About Ventilators

Short Wave

NPR

Daily News, Nature, Life Sciences, Astronomy, Science, News

4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2020

⏱️ 11 minutes

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Summary

During the pandemic, ventilators have been considered a vital medical tool to treat critically-ill COVID-19 patients. But more and more evidence is suggesting that those who go on a ventilator — don't end up surviving. NPR Science Desk correspondent Jon Hamilton tells us about how these machines work, and how, for patients who do survive, recovery can be a long road.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to shortwave from NPR.
0:05.4	We've been hearing a lot about how important ventilators are during this pandemic, especially
0:11.0	when it comes to treating the most critically ill COVID-19 patients.
0:15.5	So we're taking a closer look with NPR science correspondent John Hamilton.
0:19.7	Hi, John.
0:20.7	Hi, how's it going?
0:21.7	Good.
0:22.7	Good to talk to you.
0:23.7	Good to hear your voice.
0:24.7	Okay.
0:25.7	We've been reporting on what happens when COVID-19 patients actually end up going on ventilators.
0:32.3	That is right.
0:33.3	And I want to start by introducing you to someone who actually came off of ventilator.
0:37.8	This is a guy named David Williams.
0:39.4	He's a Marine Corps veteran and he nearly died of COVID-19.
0:44.2	And he finally got out of the hospital a few weeks ago.
0:48.7	So that's sound you're hearing.
0:50.2	That is the sound of the hospital staff cheering David as he left.
0:54.4	That's awesome.
0:55.4	That's next.
0:56.4	So how long was he on ventilator?
1:01.1	For about a week, eight days, I think.
	...

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