Research on SARS-COV-2 pandemic: a narrative review focused on the Italian contribution

Abstract

Background Since late 2019, a severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread with overwhelming speed causing over 214 million confirmed infections and more than 4.5 million deaths worldwide. In this framework, Italy had the second highest number of SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide, and the largest number of deaths. A global effort of both the scientific community and governments has been undertaken to stem the pandemic. The aim of this paper is to perform a narrative review of the Italian contribution to the scientific literature regarding intensive care management of patients suffering from COVID-19, being one of the first western countries to face an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Main body We performed a narrative review of the literature, dedicating particular attention and a dedicated paragraph to ventilatory support management, chest imaging findings, biomarkers, possible pharmacological interventions, bacterial superinfections, prognosis and non-clinical key aspects such as communication and interaction with relatives. Conclusions Many colleagues, nurses and patients died leaving their families alone. To all of them, we send our thoughts and dedicate these pages.

Complications during Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

“…However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the critical care surge capacity was exceeded by the request for mechanical ventilation for patients [44]. This emergency led physicians to prolong the time under NIV, extending its indications and developing new approaches to patient care [45][46][47][48][49][50].…”