Respiratori

Respiratori, singular respiratore, is the Italian term for devices designed to support or enable breathing. In medical contexts, respiratori often refer to ventilators, devices that deliver breathable gas to patients who cannot breathe adequately on their own. Mechanical ventilators can be used in operating theatres or intensive care units and include modes such as volume- or pressure-controlled ventilation. Historic devices include the iron lung, a negative-pressure ventilator, while modern devices mostly provide positive-pressure ventilation and can be noninvasive (CPAP, BiPAP) or invasive via endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes.

In occupational and consumer safety contexts, respiratori also denote protective equipment worn to prevent inhalation of hazardous substances. This includes filtering facepiece respirators (FFP types in Europe), elastomeric half- and full-face respirators, and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR). Selection depends on the contaminants, concentration, and working conditions; the devices are regulated by standards and guidelines (for example EN 149 in Europe for filtering masks and NIOSH/CDC guidelines in the United States). Regular maintenance, fit-testing, and proper usage are required to ensure effectiveness.

The term also appears in physiology and rehabilitation literature, describing respiratory support for patients with chronic diseases or postoperative recovery. While respiratori sometimes specifically refers to ventilators, in everyday Italian it can mean both devices that support breathing and protective equipment against inhalation hazards.