AKU to begin clinical trials of portable ventilators

Equipment designed to make lifesaving medical treatment available to patients in ambulances

KARACHI:

Aga Khan University (AKU) plans to initiate the clinical trial of a portable, low-cost ventilator, which has been designed to make lifesaving medical treatment, such as assisted breathing, available to patients in ambulances, on the way to hospitals, said a statement issued by the varsity on Tuesday.

Ventilators are currently only available in hospitals even though most patients with critical breathing problems need earlier access to breathing assistance, the statement highlights, adding that AKU's briefcase-sized, battery-operated ventilator is designed to be used in an ambulance to reduce delays in the deliverance of medical care.

In this regard, AKU's centre of excellence for human trauma emergencies director Dr Junaid Razzak said, "Too many precious lives are lost due to the lack of timely and effective ventilation. This innovation aims to bridge the gap in care during transport to the hospital, which is often the period of highest risk for critically ill patients."

AKU highlighted in the statement that Pakistan has a high incidence of respiratory diseases, with pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being two of the top ten leading causes of death in the country, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. People with severe forms of pneumonia, COPD and Covid-19 are among those who require urgent access to ventilation and portable ventilators can aptly serve the purpose, the statement explains.

Early tests show that the prototype ventilator can provide a regular supply of oxygen that can stabilise the health of a high-fidelity patient mannequin mimicking the symptoms of a patient with respiratory issues. Clinical trials aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the device among patients with chronic breathing problems in ambulances and emergency rooms.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2020.