Across nations, government leaders and hospital systems have voiced the urgent need for more ventilators to meet the challenge of the increasing number of critically ill patients with COVID-19. But, with emerging evidence showing a significant percentage of patients with the disease dying on ventilators, some health experts are now wondering whether ventilation is really the best treatment strategy.

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According to some frontline clinicians, ventilators may be doing more harm than good.

Tiffany Osborn, MD, professor of surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, who has been caring for patients with COVID-19 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, told NPR:

"We're not sure how much help ventilators are going to be. They may help keep somebody alive in the short term. We're not sure if it's going to help keep someone alive in the long term."

"The ventilator itself can do damage to the lung tissue based on how much pressure is required to help oxygen get processed by the lungs.”