Blood circulation changes associated with switching to non-invasive ventilation in COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Background. Various methods of respiratory support in combination with prone positioning have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of combination of these two factors on hemodynamics are of interest for clinical practitioners.The aim: to evaluate the effect of prone positioning on hemodynamics in COVID-19 patients depending on the method of respiratory support.Materials and methods. The study included 17 patients of both sexes diagnosed with COVID-19-associated community-acquired polysegmental viral and bacterial pneumonia with progressive respiratory failure. The study consisted of two stages. During the first stage, the patients were receiving respiratory support with humidified oxygen (3–7 liters per minute). The second stage was initiated after switching to noninvasive ventilation (NIV). The measurements were performed using a technique of volumetric compression oscillometry on a non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring system KAP CGosm-Globus (Russia).Results. The study showed that prone positioning in patients with severe COVID-19 when switching from oxygen therapy to NIV resulted in a change in the diastolic blood pressure difference module from 2.5 (1.0; 8.2) to 8.0 (5.7; 14.0) (p = 0.016). Escalation of respiratory support led to the changes in the left ventricular outflow tract velocity difference module from 11.5 (9.5; 34.2) to 31.0 (15.7; 42.0) (p = 0.049).Conclusions. Patients with community-acquired polysegmental viral and bacterial pneumonia associated with COVID-19 demonstrated changes in diastolic blood pressure and left ventricular outflow tract velocity as a result of prone positioning following switching from oxygen therapy to NIV.