Continuous positive airway pressure and pronation outside the intensive care unit in COVID 19 ARDS

Link to article at PubMed

Minerva Med. 2020 Sep 30. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4806.20.06952-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of continuous positive airway pressure and respiratory physiotherapy outside the ntensive care unit during a pandemic.

METHODS: In this cohort study performed in February-May 2020 in a large teaching hospital in Milan, COVID-19 patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome receiving continuous positive airway pressure (positive end-expiratory pressure = 10 cm H2O, FiO2 = 0.6, daily treatment duration: 4x3hcycles) and respiratory physiotherapy including pronation outside the intensive care unit were followed up.

RESULTS: Of 90 ARDS patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure (45/90, 50% pronated at least once) outside the intensive care unit and with a median (interquartile) follow up of 37 (11-46) days, 45 (50%) were discharged at home, 28 (31%) were still hospitalized, and 17 (19%) died. Continuous positive airway pressure failure was recorded for 35 (39%) patients. Patient mobilization was associated with reduced failure rates (p=0.033). No safety issues were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Continuous positive airway pressure with patient mobilization (including pronation) was effective and safe in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 managed outside the intensive care unit setting during the pandemic.

PMID:32996727 | DOI:10.23736/S0026-4806.20.06952-9

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