The explanation above is not entirely accurate. The reason lies in the distinction between invasive and non-invasive ventilators. Invasive ventilators are far more common in the ICU compared to other departments. Non-invasive ventilators are widely used in respiratory medicine, and there are typically more than just one or two in use.
Let me first explain what "invasive" and "non-invasive" mean. The key difference lies in the word "invasion," which implies trauma. Invasive ventilation and non-invasive ventilation correspond respectively to invasive mechanical ventilation and non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
Mechanical ventilation, to put it simply, refers to the connection between the machine and the patient. Invasive ventilation means the ventilator is connected to the patient through intubation. Non-invasive ventilation, on the other hand, connects the ventilator to the patient using equipment like masks that do not cause bodily harm.
