By the time someone gets to the point where their doctors put them on a ventilator, their lungs are usually beyond fucked. (usually, unless the doctor is incompetent)
The ventilator may save some people, whereas without it they would pretty much have no chance.
This is my cursory understanding from what I've read. The real solution is to not let it go that far, and the drugs like HCQ and other immune-suppressants are usually the ticket. But then there's people with other potentially deadly diseases going on, and suppressing the immune system would open the door for them. In those cases, the doctors can't really do anything. Some people are just bound to die from this shit, or from the shit they had before they got this virus. But they won't be in any numbers we aren't used to from normal flu viruses and other respiratory illnesses, and that's mainly because the immune system freaks out when shit attacks the lungs more often than other illnesses that affect other organs.
Couple things to consider:
By the time someone gets to the point where their doctors put them on a ventilator, their lungs are usually beyond fucked. (usually, unless the doctor is incompetent)
The ventilator may save some people, whereas without it they would pretty much have no chance.
This is my cursory understanding from what I've read. The real solution is to not let it go that far, and the drugs like HCQ and other immune-suppressants are usually the ticket. But then there's people with other potentially deadly diseases going on, and suppressing the immune system would open the door for them. In those cases, the doctors can't really do anything. Some people are just bound to die from this shit, or from the shit they had before they got this virus. But they won't be in any numbers we aren't used to from normal flu viruses and other respiratory illnesses, and that's mainly because the immune system freaks out when shit attacks the lungs more often than other illnesses that affect other organs.
I have read that the forced air damages already sore lungs. I've read that from other doctors who have been saying that for weeks now.
This is a known risk of ventilators. That's why a ventilator is a last resort.
COVID-19 didn't change that.
That's the basic gist of it. The gamble is that it will help the patient slightly more than it hurts them, whereas without it they would just die.
Intubation itself further damages the lungs.
There's a 3D printed mod for a snorkeling mask that eliminates the need for intubation. We don't hear about that anymore though.
CPAPs use a mask that seals around the face. But, it can be difficult for a user to find one that works for them.
https://everydaykiss.com/italian-guy-designed-a-3d-printed-valve-to-turn-the-mask-into-a-ventilator-mask-and-its-free/