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> They slow down all patient care that doesn't involve the head. That's an understatement. The entire body is in a pressure vessel and is inaccessible. You c
by CydeWeys 7y ago
> They slow down all patient care that doesn't involve the head.
That's an understatement. The entire body is in a pressure vessel and is inaccessible. You can't even easily give medication or draw blood. I wouldn't say iron lungs are "superior"; they're no longer used for good reasons that don't just boil down to cost/bulkiness reasons. Also, modern ventilators aren't that cheap anyway.
- AstralStorm 7y agoCurtain ventilators and tents are quite commonly used still, they're much less bulky. However they're a maintenance pain, esp. disinfection.
- CydeWeys 7y agoSure. They're not iron lungs though. No one in the medical profession is seriously calling for the return of iron lungs.
- souprock 7y agoYou easily give medication or draw blood via the head. Air locks and captive gloves (like a glove box) are also workable. If you were to be the patient, I think you would say iron lungs are "superior". The alternative is tubes jammed down your throat, which is horrible torture. I had a relative who literally chose death over the tubes. He would fight to rip them out, despite knowing that he needed them. Finally the hospital gave in, and now he's dead.