Shared Decision Making

Ventilator for People Who Are Seriously Ill: Stay On or Remove?

This decision aid is for adults who are seriously ill and cannot breathe on their own. This aid can also help their representative.

About Ventilators: A ventilator is a machine that helps you breathe.

 
Patient Questions
What does the option involve? You will stay on or remove the ventilator. You will make this decision with your healthcare team, family members, and others. A representative will make decisions for you if you are unable.
How long will I live? Stay On the Ventilator
How long you live depends on your health, age, and the reason you are on a ventilator. Many people die within 1 month. Some may live longer. 		Remove the Ventilator
Many people live up to 1 hour. Most people die within 1 day.
Will there be discomfort? Stay On the Ventilator
Out of 100 people, about:
  • 90 (90%) feel anxious.
  • 82 (82%) get confused.
  • 75 (75%) feel pain.
You will get medicine for pain and discomfort. This will likely cause sleepiness. 		Remove the Ventilator
Out of 100 people, about:
  • 60 (60%) do not breathe in an easy way.
  • 17 (17%) have noisy breathing.
You will get medicine for pain and discomfort. This will likely cause sleepiness. Most people will have a peaceful death.
What are the harms of staying on the ventilator? Out of 100 people, about:
  • 25 (25%) get a lung infection.
  • 20 (20%) get a blood infection.
  • 10 (10%) get bed sores from lying in the same spot.
Is removing the ventilator the same as suicide? No. Removing the ventilator is not the same as suicide. Death will happen naturally if you are unable to breathe on your own.
What else can I do? Getting palliative care can help make it more comfortable to stay on or remove the ventilator.
 
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The EBSCO Health Option Grid ™ decision aids are not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and are intended to provide information to help people engage in shared decision making with health professionals.
EBSCO Health

What does the option involve?

You will stay on or remove the ventilator. You will make this decision with your healthcare team, family members, and others. A representative will make decisions for you if you are unable.

How long will I live?

How long you live depends on your health, age, and the reason you are on a ventilator. Many people die within 1 month. Some may live longer.
Many people live up to 1 hour. Most people die within 1 day.

Will there be discomfort?

Out of 100 people, about:
  • 90 (90%) feel anxious.
  • 82 (82%) get confused.
  • 75 (75%) feel pain.
You will get medicine for pain and discomfort. This will likely cause sleepiness.
Out of 100 people, about:
  • 60 (60%) do not breathe in an easy way.
  • 17 (17%) have noisy breathing.
You will get medicine for pain and discomfort. This will likely cause sleepiness. Most people will have a peaceful death.

What are the harms of staying on the ventilator?

Out of 100 people, about:
  • 25 (25%) get a lung infection.
  • 20 (20%) get a blood infection.
  • 10 (10%) get bed sores from lying in the same spot.

Is removing the ventilator the same as suicide?

No. Removing the ventilator is not the same as suicide. Death will happen naturally if you are unable to breathe on your own.

What else can I do?

Getting palliative care can help make it more comfortable to stay on or remove the ventilator.

See the cost of this procedure

Take a brief survey about this tool
The EBSCO Health Option Grid ™ decision aids are not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and are intended to provide information to help people engage in shared decision making with health professionals.