Basics of Mechanical Ventilation for Non-Critical Care MDs (SAGES)

Abstract

Although the data is still very early and treatment of COVID-19 respiratory failure is still evolving, the current information suggests that the majority of critically ill COVID-19 patients are suffering only from severe hypoxia and only require management of hypoxemia using Positive End Expiration Pressure (PEEP), FiO2, and possibly prone positioning. Other underlying chronic illnesses must be treated accordingly, but again the effect of COVID-19 appears to be mostly hypoxemia. Fluid resuscitation should be minimized to maintain euvolemia and avoid hypervolemia. This primer can help provide some just in time learning for non-critical care physicians who may be called to help manage ventilators.