With the exponential rising of patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), hospitals of affected countries had to face an increasing number of patients presenting with hypoxemic respiratory failure, with a demand of mechanical support and endotracheal intubation (ETI) higher than normal, often exceeding available resources.
15% of patients with COVID-19 develops severe respiratory failure, with a rate highly dependent on patient’s age and comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic pulmonary disease.1 Estimated overall case fatality varies from 1.4% in patients younger than 60 years to 4.5% in those 60 years and older.2
Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia present an atypical form of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The first phases of the disease are characterized by a severe hypoxemia associated with a fairly preserved lung compliance (“silent” hypoxemia).3,4 The severe hypoxemia is likely due to the loss of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, with a remarkable hyperperfusion of gasless tissue, and impaired regulation of pulmonary blood flow, with ventilation/perfusion (VA/Q) mismatch. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and prone positioning can improve oxygenation through recruitment of collapsed areas and redistribution of pulmonary perfusion, improving the VA/Q ratio. In many patients the disease stabilizes at this first stage while in others, about 20–30%, it may worse to a clinical picture similar to ARDS, with bilateral CT consolidations and low compliance.5
Evidence on non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to viral pneumonia is lacking and its use is still of uncertain benefit.6,7 Data from observational studies on the use of NIPPV in Influenza A (H1N1) viral pneumonia showed a variable successful rate between 40,7% and 48%.8–10 Some studies reported an increased ICU mortality in patients who failed NIPPV trial compared with early invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), whereas NIPPV success resulted in shorter hospital stay. NIPPV failure was associated with higher SOFA scores and lower P/F levels. A high rate of NIPPV failure (92,4%) was reported in critically ill patients with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.1,8,9
Due to the lack of Randomized Controlled Trials no recommendations are offered on NIPPV use in these patients, but according to data from observational studies, a cautious NIPPV trial in selected patients and in a protected environment and experienced centers can be tried. The application of a PEEP during ARF secondary to pneumonia has been demonstrated to improve arterial oxygenation by increasing functional residual capacity, to shift the tidal volume to a more compliant part of the pressure-volume curve and to reduce the work of breathing.1,8,9 Furthermore, it recruits non-aerated alveoli in dependent pulmonary regions, stabilizes the airways, and reduces the inhomogeneity of lung volume distribution.11
During COVID-19 spreading, NIPPV with helmet CPAP was largely used to support patients with ARF in emergency departments (ED) and medicine wards, in order to face the large number of affected patients.
A better tolerability of the helmet and a reduced room contamination compared with oronasal masks may also improve patients’ clinical management, increasing the safety of healthcare workers.12 Despite the relative simplicity of setting up a helmet CPAP, the need for attentive and careful monitoring of the respiratory and hemodynamic response to the application of PEEP should be part of the standard operating procedures of the unit.
The aim of the study is to describe the treatment with helmet CPAP in patients with ARF due to COVID-19 related pneumonia. The primary endpoint is the proportion of CPAP failure evaluated as need of ETI. The secondary endpoints are intra-hospital mortality and ICU and in hospital length of stay.