Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2020 | Coronavirus | Research
International variation in the management of severe COVID-19 patients
Authors:
Elie Azoulay, Jan de Waele, Ricard Ferrer, Thomas Staudinger, Marta Borkowska, Pedro Povoa, Katerina Iliopoulou, Antonio Artigas, Stefan J. Schaller, Manu Shankar-Hari, Mariangela Pellegrini, Michael Darmon, Jozef Kesecioglu, Maurizio Cecconi
Published in:
Critical Care
|
Issue 1/2020
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Abstract
Background
There is little evidence to support the management of severe COVID-19 patients.
Methods
To document this variation in practices, we performed an online survey (April 30–May 25, 2020) on behalf of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). A case vignette was sent to ESICM members. Questions investigated practices for a previously healthy 39-year-old patient presenting with severe hypoxemia from COVID-19 infection.
Results
A total of 1132 ICU specialists (response rate 20%) from 85 countries (12 regions) responded to the survey. The survey provides information on the heterogeneity in patient’s management, more particularly regarding the timing of ICU admission, the first line oxygenation strategy, optimization of management, and ventilatory settings in case of refractory hypoxemia. Practices related to antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory therapies are also investigated.
Conclusions
There are important practice variations in the management of severe COVID-19 patients, including differences at regional and individual levels. Large outcome studies based on multinational registries are warranted.