Feasibility of sedation with sevoflurane inhalation via AnaConDa for Covid-19 patients under venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

Critical care centers around the world have faced a shortage of intravenous sedatives caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Many patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus develop severe Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome (ARDS) for which some of them are supported by extra corporeal membrane oxygenation. Under these circumstances, the pharmacokinetics of the sedatives is modified. We observed that many of our COVID-19 infected patients receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (ECMO) require high doses of intravenous drugs. Continuous sedation with halogenated gases in the intensive care unit has shown many benefits on systemic inflammation and offers the possibility of a rapid recovery of consciousness. In this article we describe 3 cases that show the feasibility of sedation with sevoflurane via AnaConDa (Sedana Medical AB, Danderyd, Sweden) for Covid-19 patients under ECMO. Halogenated drugs could be considered as an interesting alternative to intravenous sedatives especially in the context of drug shortage.