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Respiratory disease has spread all over the world from China to the USA. While many mild cases can be overcome from one’s own home and comfort, other more severe cases require medical assistance and the use of artificial respirators. But are there enough ventilators for all of the patients?

One 90-year-old woman died after giving up her ventilator to save a younger patient. There’s obviously a lack of medical supplies and space in hospitals around the world.

A team of Lebanese tried to find a solution to the ventilator shortage by creating a respiratory machine that can be used by more than one patient at the same time.

The Lebanon Response Team (LRT) in cooperation with Alaeddin Hospital have just tested a device called “T piece splitter” that may be used to connect more than one patient on a single respirator.

The test was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Ali Alaeddine and Dr. Ibrahim Nasereddine.

According to LRT, “Tests were performed on a Medtronic Covidien PB980 ventilator with immense success.” However, the Lebanese Response Team posted a disclaimer stating that specific precautions need to be taken before use.

“This test has been done to prepare for crisis situations only,” they wrote, “It has been done with complete liability on the operator, Eng. Alaa Salam, without prior approval of [the] manufacturer, aka Medtronic Covidien, in the premises of Alaeddine Hospital (after they provided consent for it).”

“In normal circumstances, this setup would go against manufacturer recommendations and may even cause uncalled duress on [the] ventilator. Liability of use lies completely on anyone who uses it with patients as they knowingly are using the ventilator in such scenarios,” stressed the LRT.

According to the disclaimer, in order to share the ventilator, the patients’ lungs need to require the same setup; otherwise, it will cause adverse effects.

The LRT is currently working also on various projects with its community volunteers to find solutions to the problems caused by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including Face Shields, a CPAP based portable ventilator and a Non-contact digital thermometer.

Get the latest news and updates about the coronavirus outbreak in Lebanon along with a live monitor of cases in Lebanon as well as resources and information to help you guide the outbreak on our dedicated coronavirus page.

