Presentation and treatment of severe COVID pneumonia: current knowledge and experiences of Intensive Care Unit of the Clinic of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia

Abstract

Severe COVID infection is most often presented as bilateral pneumonia and, according to current knowledge, can be explained by cytokine storm, hypercoagulability and microvascular thromboses. Patients at risk of poor outcome include obese middle-aged men and persons with cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities and diabetes. One of specific traits of COVID 19 pneumonias is frequent discrepancy between clinical presentation, radiographic findings and oxygen saturation. Regular monitoring and use of early warning scores improve survival and decrease rates of emergency admissions to intensive care units. Corner-stone of treatment of critically ill patients include oxygen, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant therapy. Best results are obtained through administering high flow oxygen and non-invasive mechanical ventilation.

Keywords

• covid
• pneumonia
• ards
• corticosteroids