COVID-19 interventions

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Javaria Anwer M.D.[2]

Synonyms and keywords: SARS Cov2 interventions, Interventions in covid19, Novel coronavirus interventions

Overview

The feasibility of the strategy used for the management of a patient with COVID-19 depends on the patients' condition at the time of Continuous evaluation and titration of ongoing interventions ensures optimal results. The respiratory manifestations of COVID-19 may require some oxygen supplementation to ventilaroty support.

Respiratory management interventions in COVID-19

• The COVID-19 respiratory complications that may require mechanical ventilation include: COVID-19-associated pneumonia, COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) and COVID-19-associated respiratory failure. At the start, the recommendation to treat CARDS was similar to the ones used to treat ARDS due to other causes. Improved knowledge and experience of the disease led the guidelines to be modified.
• Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and ARDS are more common respiratory complications in COVID-19 patients.

Supplemental Oxygen

• Surviving Sepsis Campaign has the following recommendations regarding the use of supplemental oxygen in COVID-19 patients:
  • It is strongly recommended (with moderate-quality evidence) to start the supplemental oxygen if the Spo2 is < 90% in adults. A weak recommendation states starting the supplemental oxygen at < 92% saturation.
  • In COVID-19 positive adult patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure on supplemental oxygen therapy, Spo2 should be maintained no higher than 96% (strong recommendation by Surviving Sepsis Campaign). This based upon the systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 RCTs that showed a linear association between the death risk and higher Spo2 targets.

Ventilatory support

Non-Invasive ventilation (NIV)

• Both HFNC and NIPPV methods used in COVID-19 patients generate aerosols. So, in addition to regular precautions such as the use of PPE followed during COVID-19 pandemic following precautions as advised by CDC to prevent airborne transmission should be taken:
  • Airborne infection isolation room (AIIR)
  • Restricting susceptible healthcare personnel
  • Limiting transport and movement of the patient
  • Use of fit-tested NIOSH-approved N95 or higher level respirator for healthcare personnel.
• Close monitoring for a deteriorating respiratory status and early intubation when indicated, in a controlled setting can help minimize the infection of health personnel and promise better patient health outcomes.

High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)

• Also known as high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or Heated humidified high-flow (HHHF) therapy is a non-invasive technique. It is a technique of delivering heated and humidified high-flow oxygen via soft and flexible nasal prongs. Humidification prevents the drying of epithelium and facilitates the removal of mucosal secretions. Other advantages include pharyngeal dead space washout and PEEP effect.
• Surviving Sepsis Campaign has the following recommendations regarding the use of HFNC in COVID-19 patients:
  • In COVID-19 positive adult patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure despite supplemental oxygen therapy, a weak recommendation suggests using HFNC over conventional oxygen therapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 RCTs showed that High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) reduces the need for intubation.
  • A weak recommendation (low-quality evidence) also prefers using HFNC over Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). It is possibly due to reduced mortality and decreased intubation risk, as proved by a RCT and a meta-analysis respectively. Patient comfort better oxygenation with HFNC than NIPPV is also one of the considering factors.
  • Patient should be monitored closely and intubated in the event of decompensation.

Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)

• Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is a technique utilized for delivering mechanical ventilation without the use of endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy. It can be administered through a face mask, nasal mask, or a helmet.
• Many patients who develop ARDS receive a trial of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) before intubation for mechanical ventilation before they clinically deteriorate or become unable to maintain adequate oxygenation.
• Studies from China reported (4% to 13%) of COVID-19 patients to have received non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV).
• Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) has the following recommendations regarding the use of Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in adult COVID-19 patient with hypoxemic respiratory failure:
  • A weak recommendation (very low-quality evidence) suggests a trial of NIPPV, if HFNC is not available and endotracheal intubation not urgently indicated. with close monitoring and short-interval assessment for worsening of respiratory failure.
  • The SSC demonstrated its uncertainty regarding the safety and efficacy of helmet NIPPV in SARS Cov2 patients. Another study advocates and recommends the use of helmet NIPPV in COVID-19 care due to potential avoidance of air dispersion through the spring-valve. Having said that, the cost of a helmet may be an essential consideration for healthcare systems struggling financially.

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV)

• The vascular endothelial injury in COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) and diverse mortality rates across the world in CARDS patients arbitrates the importance of different mechanical ventilation strategies.
• The Chinese CDC reports the case-fatality rate to be higher than 50% in patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation.
• According to the American Society of Anesthesiology based upon the experience of Chinese anesthesiologists, timely (neither premature nor late) intubation and ventilation most effectual breathing assistance.

Ventilator settings

• Mode: No mode of ventilation has been suggested to be superior to others.
• positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP): The commonly used PEEP in the COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China was less than 10 cm H2O. It is advised that after lung recruitment maneuvers, is to set PEEP at 20 cm H2O and titrate down in a decrement of 2 to 3 cm H2O each time until the goals of oxygenation, plateau pressure, and compliance are all achieved.

Marini et al. suggest

• • Lower PEEP: “type L,” characterized by low lung elastance (high compliance), lower lung weight as estimated by CT scan, and a low response to PEEP
  • Higher PEEP: Initially it was recommended that the guidelines for ARDS must be followed for respiratory support in SARS Cov2 patients. But the data from China helped inform and reform regarding the strategies. In Wuhan, patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 have a poor tolerance to high PEEP, likely as the result of the direct and severe lung damage by the virus and inflammatory reactions.

Stratagies to improve oxygenation

Prone position ventilation

• Prone positioning is thought to improve oxygenation by improving ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatching via reduced shunting of blood through under-ventilated lung tissue.
• Research has shown that prone position ventilation in ARDS patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and spontaneous or assisted breathing reduces the mortality by 28 and 90-days.
• The strategy was widely used in COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China.
• Prone position is an early strategy rather than a desperate rescue therapy. A study by Lin Ding et al. suggests that the early application of prone ventilation with HFNC and NIV, especially in COVID-19 patients with moderate ARDS, can help avoid intubation.
• Prone position for awake patients during spontaneous or assisted breathing during NIPPV or HFNC with mild-moderate ARDS was associated with an improved oxygenation. In addition, patients with an Spo2 of 95% or greater after an hour of the prone position had a lower rate of intubation. To answer the question about the effectiveness, two RCTs are in progress NCT04347941 and NCT04350723.
• The American Thoracic Society/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine/Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice and Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines strongly recommend (moderate evidence) Prone positioning for more than 12 hours/day in patients with severe ARDS.

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Special considerationss

• Intubation:Capnography, fogging inside of the endotracheal tube, chest movement, Spo2, the color of the patient’s skin and mucous membrane, and vigilance are used to differentiate between a failed and successful intubation. chest auscultation after intubation is not recommended.

Airway management

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO)

NIV and HFNO must be avoided as they present a high risk of aerosol transmissibility

Mechanical Ventilation

• Mechanical ventilation can be used in patients who have labored breathing and are unable to maintain adequate gaseous excange leading to hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia.
• Common clinical indications of mechanical ventilation include moderate to severe dyspnea, respiratory rate (RR) > 24-30/min, signs of increased breathing, accessory muscle use for breathing and abdominal paradox. It may also be used in patients who have inadequate arterial partial pressure of oxygen or critically low PaO2 (PaO2 < 70 mm Hg), hypercapnia PaCO2 > 45 mm Hg and PaO2/FiO2 < 200.
• The following ventilator setting should be used:
  • Tidal volume: 4 to 6 ml/kg predicted body weight, PBW) and lower inspiratory pressures
  • Plateau pressure (Pplat) < 28 to 30 cm H2O
  • PEEP must be as high as possible to maintain the driving pressure (Pplat-PEEP) as low as possible (< 14 cmH2O)
  • Use of paralytics is not recommended unless PaO2/FiO2 < 150 mmHg
  • Prone ventilation for > 12 hours per day

Special Considerations

In patients suffering from COVID-19, airways management can be high-risk due to aerosol-based transmission for the following reasons:

• Combative or agitated patient secondary to hypoxia
• Personal protective equipment may need to be removed
• Clinicians in close proximity to the patient's airway may be at risk
• Larygoscopy and intubation may become high risk secondary to aerosol generation

Aerosol Generation Risk Factors and Protective Measures

Route of Aerosol Generation	Protective Measures
Coughing	Utilize full personal protective equipment (PPE) prior to entering intubation room Minimize period between removal of patient's PPE and application of face mask with viral filter Ensure sealing of face mask Adequate dosage and time for paralytic drugs
Face Mask Seal Leak	Optimum fitting of face mask Vice (V-E) grip Use manual ventilation ambu bag ETO2 monitoring
Inadequate Seal With Positive Pressure Ventilation
High Flow Nasal Oxygen