Title: Efficacy of Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in ARDS caused by Covid19

Abstract:

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation was being practiced in the management of covid19 ARDS but there were no specific studies for its effectiveness.
Objective:
This study was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of NIPPV in covid19 ARDS patients.
Method:
One hundred and seventeen patients from the Corona Intensive Care Unit of Nishtar Hospital Multan with severe covid19 ARDS having PaO2/FiO2 ratio <100mHg, GCS > 13, and Respiratory breathing index <105 were selected. These patients were hospitalized in 2021 during covid pandemic for their management. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation with a high flow system was applied to all patients along with a heat and moist exchanger (HME) at the interface and viral/bacterial filters at the expiratory limb of the ventilatory circuit. 62% patients were improved with improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio over time period of 7 days. 38% of patients deteriorated and they were switched to mechanical ventilation.
Conclusion:
After ruling out general contraindications of NIPPV, its use was a remarkably effective and safe modality for covid19 ARDS patients. Additionally, patients are at ease with the use of NIPPV contrary to IMV. Further, larger-scale studies should be carried out to determine the effectiveness of NIPPV.