Barotrauma and mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients covid-19

Abstract

Manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia can rapidly progress to acute respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome that should receive timely ventilatory support invasive mechanical ventilation. Barotrauma is a complication that should be considered in this type of patient due to the risk of worsening the clinical course, increasing mortality risk. The mechanism of how barotrauma occurs in COVID-19 patient is related to lung damage associated with mechanical ventilation and structural changes caused by COVID-19 complications. Worldwide evidence on therapeutic management on barotrauma in COVID-19 patient is limited. Clinical evolution should be monitored due to the possibility of cardiovascular and respiratory complications, which must be resolved in a timely manner. The objective of this review is to inform about the current knowledge described in literature of this complication in COVID-19 patients, its incidence, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Conclusions: Barotrauma presentation frequency increases in COVID-19 infected patients. Clinical manifestations can be nonspecific, so the diagnosis should have high suspicion. There is little evidence to date of pulmonary sequelae associated with barotrauma in these patients.