As Reports of Dharmendra on Ventilator Emerge, Doctors Explain What Ventilator Support Means for the Elderly

Dharmendra Health Update: There are reports that veteran actor Dharmendra has been put on ventilator support at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. The actor, less than a month short of his 90th birthday, was hospitalised last week after he complained of breathlessness. Earlier this year, Dharmendra also underwent an eye graft surgery. What is a ventilator support? A ventilator support machine, also known as mechanical ventilation, is a form of life support that helps you breathe when you are not able to do so on your own. Doctors say it can be put in either during surgery or when you become very sick. While mechanical ventilation doesn’t directly treat illnesses, it helps stabilise you while other treatments and medications help your body recover.

A ventilator machine:

• Provides oxygen to your lungs
• Helps remove carbon dioxide from your lungs
• Provides pressure to keep the small air sacs in your lungs (alveoli) from collapsing

What does being kept on ventilator support for the elderly mean?

When an elderly person is placed on ventilator support, it means their lungs are no longer able to function adequately on their own to maintain proper oxygen levels or remove carbon dioxide. “For seniors, this usually becomes necessary due to conditions like severe pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, stroke, or sepsis, where the respiratory muscles or lung tissues are severely compromised,” Dr Viraj Kore, Geriatric Medicine Expert, Ruby Hall Clinic, told Times Now. According to Dr Kore, being on ventilator support comes with a lot of challenges. “While ventilator support can be lifesaving, it is not without challenges, particularly for older adults whose bodies may not respond as robustly due to age-related decline and multiple coexisting illnesses,” he said.

How long can you be kept on a ventilator?

According to experts, the time needed for you to be on mechanical ventilation depends on the cause of your ailment. It could be hours, days, weeks, or, rarely, months or years. Ideally, you may only stay on a ventilator for as little time as possible. In general, if you need to be on a ventilator for a long time, doctors say they may switch you from an endotracheal tube to a tube in your neck – also known as tracheostomy.

What are the challenges faced by the elderly on a ventilator?

Dr Kore feels that going on ventilator support for seniors is a critical intervention aimed at sustaining life during a severe health crisis. “However, it also marks a complex phase where medical teams, patients, and families must balance the hope of recovery with the reality of frailty and long-term outcomes,” he added. “For seniors, prolonged ventilation often carries risks such as infections like ventilator-associated pneumonia, muscle weakness, delirium, and difficulty weaning off the machine. It can also have emotional and ethical implications for families, as decisions about continuing or withdrawing support may arise, especially if recovery chances are uncertain,” said Dr Kore. And so, doctors often evaluate the potential for recovery, underlying disease severity, and quality of life before recommending ventilator use. In some cases, non-invasive ventilation using a mask rather than a tube may be an initial approach.

What are the advantages of being on a ventilator?

A few reasons why doctors may put you on mechanical ventilation include: You do not have to work hard to breathe as your body focuses on healing from infections or other conditions. It provides all the oxygen you need and removes carbon dioxide. It provides pressure to keep the small sacs of your lungs from collapsing. It keeps your airways open.