Nonventilator

Nonventilator is a term used in medicine to describe a person who is not currently receiving mechanical ventilation. This distinguishes patients whose breathing is assisted by a machine from those breathing spontaneously or supported by other means such as supplemental oxygen.

In hospitals, patients may transition from ventilated to nonventilated status through weaning and extubation. Weaning involves gradually reducing ventilatory support while monitoring breathing pattern, gas exchange, and hemodynamic stability. Extubation refers to removing the endotracheal tube when the patient can sustain adequate ventilation. Some patients may fail extubation and require reintubation or alternative airway support.

Nonventilator care includes spontaneous breathing with or without noninvasive devices. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) using masks or helmets can support breathing without an invasive airway, and some nonventilated patients may receive supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula or face mask.

In other settings, the term might describe research groups or hospital documentation distinguishing ventilated vs nonventilated patients for outcome analysis or infection control.

Limitations and considerations: a patient who is not on a ventilator may still require respiratory support or monitoring; the decision to discontinue ventilation depends on respiratory effort, airway protection, and overall prognosis.