ASPECTS OF INVASIVE MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN PATIENTS WITH ARDS CAUSED BY COVID-19

Mortality among patients with severe pneumonia and / or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 infection, who underwent mechanical ventilation (MV), is characterized by a fairly high frequency. However, despite the large number of patients receiving appropriate treatment, the question of choosing the optimal ventilation parameters remains poorly understood. In our article, we reviewed the available literature data on the indications for mechanical ventilation, parameters of MV, the need for prone-positioning of patients with ARDS caused by COVID-19 infection in intensive care units to identify unresolved issues.Despite the large number of publications about respiratory support in patients with severe coronavirus infection, there are only general principles regarding the indications for switching to invasive ventilation. Most authors identified the following clinical situations: progression of hypoxemia and / or respiratory failure but with constant oxygen support with increasing percentage of oxygen in the respiratory mixture, use of high-flow cannula or non-invasive ventilation for 1 hour without improvement; persistent hypercapnia, multiorgan failure, coma, high risk of aspiration, hemodynamic instability.According to most of the studies analyzed, the main components of the ventilation strategy should be based on the principles of pulmonary protective ventilation and include the use of low tidal volumes (Vt = 4-8 ml / kg of ideal body weight) and ventilation with plateau pressure Pplat <30 cm H2O (plateau pressure - air pressure measured after an inspiratory pause of 0.5 s). At the same time, many authors recommend using prone position and high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) compared to low levels in patients with ARDS on the background of COVID-19.The approach to invasive mechanical ventilation in ARDS caused by SARS-CoV-2 still requires further research and answers to a number of questions.