Mechanical Ventilation Strategy for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Mechanical Ventilation Strategy for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
This is a prospective, randomized, single-center, open-label controlled trial, designed to
 compare the efficacy of two ventilation strategies (Low Tidal Volume and positive
 end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) based on the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
 Network low PEEP-fraction of inspired oxygen inspired oxygen fraction (FIO2) Table versus Low
 Driving Pressure and PEEP guided by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) in reducing daily
 lung injury score in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19.
 The two strategies incorporate different prioritizations of clinical variables. The PEEP-FIO2
 table strategy aims to reduce lung overdistension, even if it requires tolerating worse gas
 exchange. EIT-guided strategy prioritizes mechanical stress protection, avoiding alveolar
 overdistension and collapse.
We will follow the ventilator strategy of the ARDS Network low PEEP-FiO2 table in the control
 arm. This strategy consists of at least 12 hours of controlled mechanical ventilation
 following prespecified PEEP and FiO2 combinations chosen dynamically targeting oxygenation.
 Tidal volume is set at 4-6 mL/Kg of predicted body weight (PBW) and plateau pressure is kept
 below 30 centimeters of water (cmH2O). Respiratory rate can be as high as 35 breaths per
 minute titrated to a potential of hydrogen (pH) 7.30-7.45. As oxygenation improves, patients
 are transitioned to assisted ventilation and then to pressure support ventilation until they
 are ready to be liberated from the ventilator. During this phase, no attempt is made to
 control plateau pressures or tidal volumes. In the intervention arm, we will focus on
 minimizing tidal lung strain by keeping driving pressure below 16 cmH2O throughout the
 mechanical ventilation period. The controlled phase will last at least 48 hours. PEEP will be
 selected according to a PEEP titration maneuver with EIT at the start of the intervention.
 This PEEP level will be kept until extubation. Respiratory rate can be as high as 50 breaths
 per minute targeting a pH of 7.15-7.45.
Inclusion Criteria:

 Patients under mechanical ventilation with ARDS (Berlin definition) caused by SARS-COV2
 infection:

 -  ARDS diagnosis in less than 24 hours

 -  Respiratory System Compliance of 0.6 mL/cmH2O/Kg of PBW

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Age < 18 years

 -  Active bronchopleural fistula

 -  History of chronic and disabling respirator disease, requiring home oxygen treatment

 -  Chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension (pulmonary artery systolic pressure > 40 mmHg)

 -  Huge intrathoracic tumoral mass

 -  Electrical impedance tomography monitoring contraindications (as thoracic wounds or
 burns, electronic implantable devices)

 -  Hemodynamic instability (systolic pressure < 80 mmHg or mean arterial pressure < 60
 mmHg, despite vasopressor drugs; and/or heart rate < 55bpm) - this patient may be
 included after recovered from hemodynamic instability

 -  Not drained pneumothorax or subcutaneous emphysema or bronchopleural fistula

 -  Patients at risk of intracranial hypertension development or post Cardiopulmonary
 resuscitation (first 72 hours)

 -  Pregnancy

 -  Impossibility of monitoring with EIT

 -  Not committed to full support or life expectation < 24 hours

 -  Legal responsible or clinical team refusal to participate in the study.