The Respiratory Therapist’s Role in Brain Health and Patient Recovery
Beyond Gas Exchange: The Respiratory Therapist's Role in Brain Health and Whole-Patient Recovery For years, the dominant frame for mechanical ventilation was pulmonary: protect the lungs, maintain oxygenation, facilitate weaning. That frame remains valid — but it is increasingly incomplete. A growing body of research has established that the mechanically ventilated patient's brain is not a passive bystander. It is an active participant in the injury and recovery process. For respiratory therapists, this means that every clinical decision made [...]
