Awake prone positioning versus non invasive ventilation for COVID-19 patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure

ABSTRACT

Background: Oxygenation failure one of the main covid-19 presentation in pandemic. Prone position (PP) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) have been traditionally used in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to improve oxygenation and avoiding invasive ventilation complications. Awake proning and noninvasive ventilation are being used as a therapy in COVID-19 hypoxic failure to improve outcomes.

Methods: A prospective study of 30 COVID patients admitted in our Hospital critical care isolation. Co-operative hemodynamically stable patients, SaO₂ ˂90%, PaO₂/FiO₂ ˂200, respiratory rate ˃ 24, bilateral lung infiltration on CT chest into two groups (15 pts in each) Oxygen was administered through non-rebreathing mask(NRB) mask O₂10-15 L/min with awake PP or NIV for 1-2 h each session, 3 h apart during waking hours for the first 3 days. Primary target improve oxygenation (SaO₂ > 95% and P/f > 200 mm Hg), avoid intubation. ICU days and hospital stay are the secondary end points. Other COVID therapies were used according to our hospital protocol.

Results: The mean SaO₂ at admission 79 ± 8.47% in PP, 82 ± 7.05% in NIV, after PP or NIV applying the mean saO₂ and paO₂ was significantly increased (mean SaO₂ 93 ± 5.9%, mean PaO₂ 107 ± 12 mmHg)PP, (mean sop2 95 ± 4.2%, mean PaO₂ 129 ± 11 mmHg) NIV, the mean pacO₂ was decreased significantly in NIV (39.34 ± 5.12 mmHg) compare to PP (43.41 ± 3.2 mmHg) p value ˂0.001 with no significant results regarding the PH (7.40 ± 0.02&7PP group .33 ± 0.06 NIV group), ICU mortality 20% in each group in whom need intubation, with no significant value in ICU or hospital stay .

Conclusion: Awake prone positioning and non-invasive ventilation showed marked improvement in SaO₂ and PaO₂ in COVID-19 patients with improvement in clinical symptoms with reduced rate of intubation with superiority of NIV in hypercapnic patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Awake prone position
• non-invasive ventilation
• hypoxemia COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2

1. Introduction

SARS-COV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread round the world and has now become a worldwide public health crisis. COVID-19 mortality of in some European cities ˃11% and therefore the death rate is up to 61.5% in mechanically ventilated patients [1]. The disease is spread through respiratory droplets and get in touch with fomites [2]. Transmission mechanism has occasionally been implicated in patients with COVID-19 during procedures that are capable of generating aerosols [3,4]. Prone positioning(PP) may be a salvage therapy for refractory hypoxemia and has proven to be effective in increasing tidal volume and improving oxygenation and diaphragmatic function in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [5].Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a method of respiratory support in which a mask easily applied and also easily disconnected from the patient. The harmful effects of the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with invasive ventilation such as barotrauma and nosocomial pneumonia have led to deeper studies of NIV methods [6,7].We conduct this study to determine the advantages with PP or NIV in improving the oxygenation, decreasing the intubation rate, ward discharge and hospital stays in COVID19 patients.

2. Patients and methods

The present study was prospective randomized comparative conducted during the period from June 2020 to September 2020 at Qena University Hospital, COVID- 19critical care isolation, after approval from faculty of medicine and ethical committee. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient or his legal guardian of the patient. Using website software thirty eligible covid 19 patients were enrolled in the study if:hospitalized patient with a positive nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal covid-19 swab is confirmed, ˃18 years old SaO₂ ˂90% (5–10O₂l/min simple face mask), PaO₂/FiO₂ ˂200, respiratory rate ˃ 24 b/m, bilateral lung infiltration in CT chest, not explained by cardiac failure and ready to co-operate pp or NIV. We excluded the patients with the subsequent criteria; need invasive and immediate ventilation, RR˃40b/m, use accessory muscle, systolic pressure ˂100 mmHg, unable or unwilling trail of PP and NIV. We illustrated the possible prone variations (arms could either be positioned at the side or abducted to less than 90 degrees at the shoulder and flexed), and NIV to the patients under study.

All the patients received high flow oxygen through nonrebreathing facemask (NRB) mask O₂ 10–15 l/min after randomization the patients divided into two groups awake PP group (15 patients) or NIV group (15 patients), each session last for 1 to 2 h according to patient to tolerability (either pp or NIV) with 3hs apart during waking hours, in the pp group the attendant physician leads the team to coordinate rolling the patient if needed with judicious use of pillows under the pelvis, caution should be maintained to ensure that lines and catheters do not get dislodged. Patients who could not tolerate prone positioning were allowed to interrupt and back to the supine position. NIV was performed using Bennett 840 ventilators initiated with CPAP of 10 cm H₂O and PSV of 15 cm H₂O and titrate to RR < 24/min, FIO₂ at 0.6 and titrate to maintain SaO₂ > 92% through a facemask with Full personal protective equipment PPE and N-95 masks for health-care providers, determination of effective mask ventilation is improvement in the O₂ saturation and arterial blood gases follow up.).No sedation was used in this study for safety concerns.

If the patient deteriorated, i.e., P/F˂100 mmHg or SaO₂˂90% at a Fio₂ 100% for at least 5 min but with respiratory distress worsen, altered sensorium, hypotension or shock endotracheal intubation and invasive ventilation were commenced.

Specific COVID-19 treatment was given to all or any patients consistent with our hospital protocol. Intra-arterial line was inserted for frequent blood gas monitoring. Vital signs [electrocardiogram (ECG), SaO₂, noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP), rate of respiration, and temperature]were continuously monitored. Target for discharging from ICU was SaO₂of >95% and PaO₂/fiO₂ > 200 on intermittent low flow O₂ (nasal cannula3-5O₂l/min)with improvement in clinical status (respiratory distress) at least 24 h.

Our primary end points were improved in oxygenation and avoiding intubation within the first 3 days of critical care admission (arterial blood gas at admission then daily after the procedure within the two groups for frequent 3 days).

Our secondary end points were reducing in ICU stay and hospital stay.

3. Statistical analysis

We calculated the sample size consistent with our hospital data for non intubated oxygen-dependent COVID 19 pneumonia as 8of 20 patients (40%) need critical care admission. Our recording data suggest that just one out of ten patients required intubation, calculations a total sample size 30;15 in each group indicated a confidence level 90% (α- error = 0.05,B-error = 0.2). Descriptive variables are expressed as percentage, mean and stander deviation (SD), or median and interquartile range (IQR), as appropriate for every variable. We used the student t test or Mann–Whitney test for numerical variables and chi-squared test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables, to match variables across the two group. Missing data weren’t imputed. Analyses were performed on an entire case analysis basis. All tests were two-sided, and a P -value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analyses were performed with SPSS version 23.

4. Results

There is no significant difference in demographic characteristics and laboratory findings between the two group, 8 patients out of PP group,9 patients out of NIV group had no coexisting diseases, the mean SaO₂ (on simple face mask 5–10 l/min) at admission 79 ± 8.47%in PP group, 82 ± 7.05% in NIV group (Table 1), O₂ therapy started immediately after admission through NRB face mask 10–15 L/min to both group. After prone position or non-invasive ventilation applying the mean arterial blood oxygen saturation and tension was significantly increased mean SaO₂ 93 ± 5.9%, mean PaO₂ 107 ± 12 mmHg PP group (Figure 1), mean SaO₂ 95 ± 4.2%, mean PaO₂ 129 ± 11 mmHg NIVgroup (Figure 2), the mean arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide was decreased significantly in NIV group paco₂39.34 ± 5.12 mmHg compare to PP group paco₂ 43.41 ± 3.2 mmHg (day3) p-value ˂0.001 (Figure 3) with no significant results regarding the PH7.40 ± 0.02 PP group,33 ± 0.06 NIV group (Figure 3).

Table 1. Patient characteristics and outcomes of all patients who received awake prone position (PP) and invasive ventilation(NIV)

Variables	Pp	NIV	P value
Patient characteristics
Age(years)	49.0(38–62)	46.0(33–51)	0.245
Male:female	9:6	8:7	0.724
Pulmonary infiltrates occupying more than 50% of both lungs.no (%)	12 (80%)	11(73%)	0.679
Co-existing diseases no(%) HTN DM Obesity Copd	4(26.6%) 7(46.6%) 3(20%) 5(33.3%)	3(20%) 6(33.3%) 2(13.3%) 3(20%)	0.651
Arterial blood gas ABG
Sao2(%)O25-10 l/min(simple face mask)	79 ± 8.47	82 ± 7.05	0.413
PaO2/fiO2 mmHg	126.0(88.0–164.0)	111.0(97.0–175.0)	0.036
PacO2 mmHg	42.7(37.1–58.8)	48.9(38.9–65.2)	0.23
Biochemical markers
WBC(×10^9/L)	6.29 ± 2.86	8.08 ± 2.94	0.102
Lymphocytes(×10^9/L)	1.23 ± 0.47	1.82 ± 0.48	0.002
Neutrophils(×10^9/L)	74.98 ± 4.64	74.78 ± 3.83	0.901
D-dimer(mg/l)	613 ± 138.9	566 ± 178.84	0.428
Creatinine level(mg/l)	1.7 ± 0.57	1.5 ± 0.39	0.326
c-reactive protein (mg/l)	123(90–167)	118(47–157)	0.21
Ferrtin ng/ml	943(563–1902)	1205(723–1604)	0.45
Outcomes
Patients requiring INV no(%)	3(20%)	3(20%)
Time to initiate invasive ventilation(hs)	20 ± 5	25 ± 8	0.558
Duration of ICU stay(days)	8 ± 3	7 ± 2	0.130
ICU mortality	3(20%)	3(20%)
Duration of hospital stay(days)	28 ± 5	26 ± 5	0.541

Data are presented as median (25–75% interquartile range), n (%), mean ±SD. All variables and scoring were performed at the time of the ICU admission.

*p-value highly significant ˂0.001

PP;prone position, NIV; non-invasive ventilation, HTN;hypertension,,DM;diabetes mellitus, COPD; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, SaO₂;oxygen saturation, PaO₂;arterial oxygen tension, FiO₂, fraction of inspiration oxygen; WBC, white blood count; ICU, intensive care unit.

Figure 1. Mean oxygenation changes (SaO_2%, PaO₂mmHg, PacO₂mmHg) through the first 3 days of ICU in prone position (pp)group

*Highly significant P-value ˂0.001.

Figure 2. Mean oxygenation changes (SaO_2%, PaO₂mmHg,PacO₂mmHg) through the first three days of ICU in noninvasive ventilation(NIV) group

*Highly significant p-value ˂0.001.

Figure 3. paco₂mmHg &pH changes through the first three days in the two groups

⁺Highly significant p-value ˂0.001 between the two groups.

80% from PP group had more than 50% bilateral pulmonary infiltration 73% NIV group. Three patients from each group requiring invasive mechanical ventilation with median time to invasive ventilation (20 ± 5hs PP group, 25 ± 8hs NIV group) due to haemodynamic instability with multiple organ dysfunction all had multiple coexisting diseases as (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, diabetes mellitus DM, obesity) and all eventually died (ICU mortality 20% in each study group), with no significant value regarding ICU or hospital duration of stay (Table 1).

5. Discussion

In this study, we were trying to determine the effect and advantages of two different and worldwide methods of treatment in covid19 pandemic in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure patients oxygen-dependent, we randomized 30 patients with different and multiple coexisting chronic diseases as (hypertension, DM, COPD,obesity) but with no other organ dysfunction or haemodynamic instability depended on only in PaO₂/fiO₂ PFR˂200 to awake PP or NIV as a strategy to avoid intubation and early ward discharge due to limited resources .

Other study considering awake PP in patients with SaO₂ > 94% requiring either 0.3–0.6 FiO₂ (with HFNC or NIV) or an oxygen flow rate of 2–10 L/min (with a face-mask or nasal cannulae). These oxygen requirements correspond to an SaO₂/FiO₂ range of 140–315 which approximates a PFR 100–300 mmHg, indicating mild to moderate ARDS(8–11) [9–11].

In our study, we found significantly improving in oxygenation through the days of study in both groups specifically in the survivor patients with no comorbidities (8 in PP group,9 in NIV group), the PP well establishes in classic ARDS as reduced ventilation perfusion mismatch (V/Q) due to its homogenous gas distribution [12], but we found the superiority of NIV in the patient with comorbidities as (COPD&obesty) hypercapnic and inability to carry out work of breathing (paco₂ 39.34 ± 5.12 mmHg)p˂0.001 and normalizing metabolic status (pH33 ± 0.06) which decrease the need of invasive ventilation and ICU stay, this gives us abroad sight about covid 19 patient selection to a certain protocol in type II respiratory failure management or covid upgrading strains and mutation.

Practically speaking, many covid 19 cases with respiratory failure/hypoxaemia do not present symptoms of dyspnea (silent hypoxaemia), especially elderly patients [13,14] and their SaO₂ is greatly affected by FiO₂.patients with sever disease requiring high oxygen therapy and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, so any method that improves oxygenation, survival rate and prevents lung injury should be considered.

The duration of a wake PP or NIV 1–2hs is tolerable to most of conscious and cooperative patients, the most reason for the patients’ intolerance of PP is discomfort, anxiety [15], and therefore the inability to vary position. Our strategy was psychological care and a small change of position every 2 h in pp group and. Spontaneous modes are generally used with NIV to reinforce synchrony .Only Six patients with acute hypoxic failure transferred to invasive mechanical ventilation (20%in each group). Recent studies on the management of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure ARF in covid-19 pandemic have shown that the overwhelming majority need invasive MV with prolonged times on the ventilator [16,17]. Other studies used Alternatives simple technique with few side effects to invasive respiratory support like HFNO and awake-PP widely used during the pandemic to correct hypoxemia and avoid the necessity for invasive ventilation [11,18–21].

Thompson et al [19]. during a similar population of 25 patients managed with conventional oxygen therapy found a heterogeneous response to awake-PP with improvements in SaO₂ starting from 1 to37%, but 12 patients (48%) patients required intubation. Better results were found by Ng et al. [20] who applied daily awake-PP sessions of 5 h in 10 non-ICU patients with just one needing intubation. Similar results were reported by Sartini et al. [11] in 15 non-ICU patients supported with NIV in whom awake-PP was used as a rescue therapy, leading to an improvement of oxygenation and rate of respiration, and just one patient required intubation.

In our study, we use the target markers of the awake prone position or NIV effectiveness as changes in blood gas parameters: a rise in pH and a decrease in PacO₂.We carefully observed the patients under the study for 1 to 2 h after instituting NIV, an increasing rate of respiration and recruitment of accessory muscles use would indicate high work of breathing, suggesting the necessity for intubation as the disadvantage of NIV is that the need for patient motivation [22].

In a meta-analysis conducted by Muir, the NIV procedure was discontinued thanks to intolerance to patients with the presence of a mask in 37 of 747 cases (5%) [23]. Fortunately, in our clinical practice, NIV is widely used which permit higher level of quality and patient comfortability. Analyzing current trends in NIV and HFNC usage altogether published series in major journals shows the subsequent mean NIV usage in hospitalized patients in China was 20.1% [3,24,25]; in Italy 11 to %15; and in USA from 0 to 19% [26,27].

In the current study, all the patients who needed invasive ventilation died with rapid deterioration in their clinical and haemodynamic status duo to shock mainly sepsis with multiple organ failure with no difference between the two groups in time needed to intubation or mortality. Coppo et al. [21] didn’t find any differences in time to intubation between responders and non-responders to awake-PP in their cohort of COVID-19 patients. In previous studies of corona virus disease in 2019 patients, severe acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF) necessitates admission to an ICU for invasive mechanical ventilation with an associated mortality of >50% [28–30].

6. Limitation

• High-flow nasal cannula wasn’t available in our hospital which is very recommended.

• Small sample size.

7. Conclusion

Prone positioning and NIV showed marked improvement in PaO₂ and SpO₂ in COVID-19 patients with superiority of NIV in those who were hypercapnic or inability to carry out work of breathing with improvement in clinical symptoms. In comparing both groups were decreased the rate of conversation of sever COVID 19 to critically ill and avoid invasive ventilation with no significant difference between the two groups.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.