Non-Invasive Low PEEP Versus High PEEP Ventilation Strategy in Severe COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Case – Control Study |Biomedgrid

Since the best ventilation strategy of severe covid-19 patients is still uncertain, we conducted a retrospective case–control study to evaluate the outcome of severe covid-19 patients treated in the emergency department (ED) with a non-invasive low positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and early weaning strategy and compared it to a non-invasive high-PEEP strategy. Primary outcome was a composite outcome of ETI rate and/or in-hospital mortality at 7 and 28 days from admission to the ED. We compared 24 severe covid-19 patients treated with non-invasive low-PEEP to 26 sex- and age-matched controls. Main demographic characteristics, p/F ratio, creatinine, procalcitonine, C-reactive protein, d-dimer levels, APACHE II score and NEWS were comparable at admission. The case group received more frequently antivirals (mainly darunavir/cobicistat) and hydroxychloroquine (p = 0.004 and 0.011 respectively).