Aims and Scope

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal is an Open Access journal, which publishes research articles, reviews/mini-reviews, letters and guest edited single topic issues in all important areas of experimental and clinical research in respiratory medicine. Topics covered include:

  • COPD

  • Occupational disorders, and the role of allergens and pollutants

  • Asthma

  • Allergy

  • Non-invasive ventilation

  • Therapeutic intervention

  • Lung cancer

  • Lung infections respiratory diseases

  • Therapeutic interventions

  • Adult and paediatric medicine

  • Cell biology

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal, a peer reviewed journal, is an important and reliable source of current information on important recent developments in the field. Emphasis is placed on publishing quality papers, making them freely available to researchers worldwide.

Recent Articles

Editor's Choice

Outcomes of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in the Management of Patients with Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pneumonia who are not Suitable for Invasive Ventilation

Hnin Aung, Eleni Avraam, Muhammad Ashraf, Nawazish Karim, Sidra Kiran, Muhammed Naeem, Srikumar Mallik, Selva Panchatsharam, George Tsaknis, Raja Reddy

Background:

The optimum management of respiratory failure in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) infections has been a challenge for physicians across the globe. Many scientific societies have suggested the use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) in severe cases in an effort to reduce invasive ventilation. We investigated mortality outcomes in patients who needed CPAP but were not suitable for invasive ventilation.

Methods:

We retrospectively evaluated the mortality outcomes of all consecutive COVID-19 cases with severe type 1 respiratory failure requiring FiO2 >0.6 who were admitted to our hospital between 12th March and 04th May’20. British Thoracic Society guidelines were followed for identifying patients needing CPAP. Their outcomes were recorded and compared with a similar group of patients who had oxygen as a ceiling of care. Prospectively collected data between 5th May and 7th June’20 in similar but smaller groups of patients was also analyzed.

Results:

A total of 104 COVID-19 patients with documented Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) decision required high fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) >0.6(to maintain peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2)> 92%(SpO2> 88% in COPD patients). Twenty-four patients received CPAP as the ceiling of care, with a mortality rate of 92.5%. The remaining 84 patients who were on oxygen as a ceiling of treatment had 91.7% mortality. Both population groups had a similar number of comorbidities but were less favorable in terms of age in the control group with standard O2 therapy than those who had CPAP support. Overall mortality outcomes from using CPAP therapy did not bring significant mortality benefit (p-value-0.89).

Conclusion:

CPAP did not appear to improve the survival of patients with severe respiratory failure due to COVID-19 related pneumonia and were not suitable for invasive ventilation. Further studies are warranted to adequately inform appropriate management strategies for this group of patients.


June 18, 2021
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