Health devices
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Intensive care ventilators are used to provide ventilatory support for patients who cannot breathe on their own or who require assistance to maintain adequate ventilation. Patients ventilated by these devices can range in age from neonates to adults and can vary in condition from very critical, unstable patients to relatively stable postoperative patients. While intensive care ventilators are typically used in critical care areas of the hospital, they may be used in other care areas as well. ⋯ We also considered ease of use, quality of construction, and reliability. For several of the evaluated units, we identified significant safety shortcomings that prevented us from rating the units Acceptable. In each of the two categories, we rated one unit Conditionally Acceptable and one unit Conditionally Acceptable--Not Recommended.