Transdermal Fentanyl patch: An approach to enhance tolerance of conscious proning in COVID-19 patients

The COVID-19 ARDS appears to have worse outcomes than ARDS from other causes. It is a predictable serious complication and the key strategy is to maintain oxygenation. Adopting the prone position for conscious COVID-19 patients requiring basic respiratory support, is shown to benefit patients in terms of improving oxygenation, reducing the need for invasive ventilation and potentially even reducing mortality. Cough and myalgia are the common and most distressing symptoms seen in conscious COVID-19 patients which can impair tolerance to awake proning. Modified awake proning with application of transdermal fentanyl patch (TFP) can improve the compliance to conscious proning in COVID-19 patients.