Use of non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: typing of patients and choice of respiratory support, the role of internal medicine

Abstract

The use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is not recommended by the guidelines because NIV does not improve the prognosis. With the advent of the new coronavirus, many cases of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure associated with the infection (severe acute respiratory infection) have been observed: data are missing regarding the use of NIV in this particular clinical condition, but a correct typing of patients based on different clinical, pathophysiological and radiological characteristics, could help in prognostic stratification and in the choice of respiratory support (invasive versus non-invasive). During NIV in these patients particular attention is paid to the possibility of environmental dissemination of the virus and consequently adequate technical precautions are taken.

Keywords

• Acute respiratory failure
• non-invasive ventilation
• SARS-CoV-2.