scholarly journals Justification of treatment and possible outcomes of severe COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 934-939
Author(s):  
R F Khamitov ◽  
E N Andreicheva ◽  
A R Hairullina ◽  
G F Mingaleeva

The role of hyaluronic acid in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome, including those associated with severe COVID-19, is known. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor) are strong inducers of hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS2) in CD31+ endothelial cells, EpCAM+ cells of the alveolar epithelium of the lungs and fibroblasts. Hyaluronic acid can absorb water in quantities significantly exceeding its own molecular weight. Reducing the presence or inhibiting of hyaluronic acid synthesis is of great importance for facilitating the breathing of COVID-19 patients. Hyaluronidase-based preparations can reduce the accumulation of hyaluronic acid and promote pulmonary alveoli cleansing. Respiratory viral infections, including pandemic strains of coronaviruses, especially in severe cases with acute respiratory distress syndrome, can be complicated by the development of pulmonary fibrosis. It has been shown that changes in X-ray Computed Tomography findings characteristic of fibrosis in the first year after COVID-19 can significantly regress. A clinical case from the practice of treating a patient with a severe course of COVID-19, significant cardiovascular comorbidity, grade 2 obesity, which was regarded as significant risk factors for an unfavorable outcome, is presented. The patient with signs of progressive respiratory failure was admitted to the intensive care unit. Pulse therapy with glucocorticosteroids and anticoagulants was started. Deterioration of the condition is regarded as the beginning of acute respiratory distress syndrome, which complicated the cytokine storm induced by the coronavirus. The patient was taken for high-flow oxygenation. An anti-cytokine therapy was prescribed. Reduction of inflammatory markers was obtained, but severe respiratory failure persisted. The bovgialuronidase azoximer was included in the treatment. The patient's condition began to stabilize then she was discharged in stable condition without oxygen support. The available data on the negative role of hyaluronic acid in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with COVID-19, as well as the need to reduce the likelihood of developing residual fibrous changes in the lungs in patients who have undergone acute respiratory distress syndrome, suggest the need for further studies of domestic azoximer bovgialuronidase properties in the treatment of severe forms of COVID-19.

Author(s):  
Renat R. Gubaidullin ◽  
◽  
Aleksandr P. Kuzin ◽  
Vladimir V. Kulakov ◽  
◽  
...  

ntroduction. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an outbreak of viral lung infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome complicated with acute respiratory failure. Despite the fact that the pandemic has a lengthened run, none of the therapeutic approaches have proved to be sufficiently effective according to the evidence-based criteria. We consider the use of surfactant therapy in patients with severe viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as one of the possible methods for treating COVID-19 related pneumonia. Objective. To prove the clinical efficacy and safety of orally inhaled Surfactant-BL, an authorized drug, in the combination therapy of COVID-19 related ARDS. Materials and methods. A total of 38 patients with COVID-19 related severe pneumonia and ARDS were enrolled in the study. Of these, 20 patients received the standard therapy in accordance with the temporary guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, version 9. And 18 patients received the surfactant therapy in addition to the standard therapy. Surfactant-BL was used in accordance with the instructions on how to administer the drug for the indication – prevention of the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. A step-by-step approach to the build-up of the respiratory therapy aggressiveness was used to manage hypoxia. We used oxygen inhalation via a face mask with an oxygen inflow of 5–15 l/min, highflow oxygen therapy via nasal cannulas using Airvo 2 devices, non-invasive lung ventilation, invasive lung ventilation in accordance with the principles of protective mechanical ventilation. Results and discussion. Significant differences in the frequency of transfers to mechanical ventilation, mortality, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospitalization length of stay (p <0.05) were found between the groups. Patients receiving surfactant therapy who required a transfer to mechanical ventilation accounted for 22% of cases, and the mortality rate was 16%. In the group of patients receiving standard therapy without surfactant inhalation 45% were transferred to mechanical ventilation, and 35% died. For patients receiving surfactant therapy, the hospital stay was reduced by 20% on average, and ICU stay by 30%. Conclusion. The inclusion of surfactant therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 related severe pneumonia and ARDS can reduce the progression of respiratory failure, avoid the use of mechanical ventilation, shorten the ICU and hospitalization length of stay, and improve the survival rate of this patient cohort.


Author(s):  
Monika Janagill ◽  
Puneet Aulakh Pooni ◽  
Siddharth Bhargava ◽  
Shibba Takkar Chhabra

AbstractAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has high mortality and multiple therapeutic strategies have been used to improve the outcome. Inhaled nitric oxide (INO), a pulmonary vasodilator, is used to improve oxygenation. This study was conducted to determine the role of sildenafil, an oral vasodilator, to improve oxygenation and mortality in pediatric ARDS (PARDS). The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in PARDS was studied as well. Inclusion criteria included children (1–18 years) with ARDS requiring invasive ventilation admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of a teaching hospital in Northern India over a 1-year period of time. Thirty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. Cardiologist performed a detailed echocardiogram to determine pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). Patients with persistent hypoxemia were started on oral sildenafil. The majority (77%) patients had a primary pulmonary etiology of PARDS. Elevated PAP (>25 mm Hg) was detected in 54.3% patients at admission. Sildenafil was given to 20 patients who had severe and persistent hypoxemia. Oxygenation improved in most patients after the first dose with statistically significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratios at both 12 and 24 hours following initiation of therapeutic dosing of sildenafil. Improvement in oxygenation occurred irrespective of initial PAP. Outcomes included a total of 57.1% patients discharged, 28.6% discharged against medical advice (DAMA), and a 14.3% mortality rate. Mortality was related to the severity of PARDS and not the use of sildenafil. This is the first study to determine the effect of sildenafil in PARDS. Sildenafil led to improvement in oxygenation in nearly all the cases without affecting mortality. Due to unavailability of INO in most centers of developing countries, sildenafil may be considered as an inexpensive alternative in cases of persistent hypoxemia in PARDS. We recommend additional randomized controlled trials to confirm the effect of sildenafil in PARDS as determined in this study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
M Gabrielli ◽  
F Valletta ◽  
F Franceschi ◽  

Ventilatory support is vital for the management of severe forms of COVID-19. Non-invasive ventilation is often used in patients who do not meet criteria for intubation or when invasive ventilation is not available, especially in a pandemic when resources are limited. Despite non-invasive ventilation providing effective respiratory support for some forms of acute respiratory failure, data about its effectiveness in patients with viral-related pneumonia are inconclusive. Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 infection causes life-threatening respiratory failure, weakening the lung parenchyma and increasing the risk of barotrauma. Pulmonary barotrauma results from positive pressure ventilation leading to elevated transalveolar pressure, and in turn to alveolar rupture and leakage of air into the extra-alveolar tissue. This article reviews the literature regarding the use of non-invasive ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 and other epidemic or pandemic viral infections and the related risk of barotrauma.


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