The CPAP breathing support method, often used in people with sleep apnea, can also save the lives of COVID-19 patients, informs the prestigious journal BMJ Respiratory Open.
- The method that is used to treat sleep apnea can also be used in patients with COVID-19. It is less invasive and easily accessible
- Thanks to the use of this method, the patient’s chance of survival increases by 10-20%.
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A new method of saving the lives of COVID-19 patients
The name of the method is an abbreviation of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure – constant positive airway pressure. It involves the use of an air pump connected to a special mask that covers the nose or the mouth and nose of the patient. This type of support is used mainly in the treatment of sleep apnea (the most effective treatment known), but also in respiratory failure. The positive pressure generated by the CPAP pump prevents the airways from collapsing, making breathing easier. Thanks to CPAP, blood pressure is lowered in patients with apnea.
According to NHS England data, 96 percent. those who died from COVID-19 had at least one serious comorbid disease, and the majority were over 80 years old. In patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome, COVID-19 can cause swelling and collapse of the lungs. In such people, CPAP makes breathing easier.
Dr Luigi Sedda from Lancaster University analyzed the results of a team from Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WWL). At this hospital, a team led by Dr. Abdul Ashish used CPAP machines on patients with COVID-19. So far, almost one hundred patients have been helped.
Research conducted by the team has shown that in conditions of limited access to beds in the intensive care unit, treatment can be effectively delivered using CPAP.
«We show that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the first days of hospitalization seems to save 10 to 20 percent. patients – said Dr. Sedda. ‘It should be stressed, however, that this was a pilot study with a small sample size, although encouraging evidence is starting to emerge elsewhere.’
Easily accessible and effective
Respiratory specialist Dr. Ashish said: “Using CPAP early in the disease prevents the patient from worsening, thus avoiding invasive ventilation techniques. Because CPAP is readily available and can be used in the ward, we have shown that its early use can be a very effective treatment for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. We developed local protocols by modifying our existing CPAP devices to ensure good results ».
Researchers also found that early application of CPAP could potentially reduce lung damage during the worst COVID-19 infection and allow the patient to recover from inflammation. However, CPAP applied later does not prevent lung damage, which leads to additional inflammation and a reduced chance of survival. (PAP)
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Author: Paweł Wernicki
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