Abstract

Background: Many COVID-19 patients experience acute respiratory distress syndrome. During the second wave of COVID, there was a massive surge in the cases of severe COVID-19, leading to paucity of healthcare resources at all levels. We aimed to assess the outcome of patients with severe COVID-19 on Ventilator. Method: This prospective study at AIIMS, New Delhi, during the second wave of COVID (4th may to 15th June 2021). 24 AgVa® ventilators were used, adult severe COVID patients saturation was <90% and required NIV or IV were included. All patients were managed on 100% FiO2 and steroids. No other drugs (except supportive treatment like antibiotics and IV fluids) were given and analysis done using SPSS (p<0.05 considered significant). Results: 125 patients were treated for COVID-19. 82 were males and 43 were females. The mean age was 51.29 years. Mean SpO2 at admission was 93.23% (±8.06). The median FiO2 on admission was 75. 43 patients were put on NIV, 82 required IV while 3 were shifted from NIV to IV. The mean duration of ventilator support for survivors was 2.5 days. The mean length of hospital stay for patients discharged was 5.52 days. The overall mortality rate was 34.4%. The difference in mortality rates in NIV and IV modes was not statistically significant, however it approached significance (p=0.06). Conclusion: This Indian study reports outcomes of severe COVID-19 patients requiring NIV or invasive ventilation who were managed in the emergency department using only oxygen and steroids during the second pandemic wave.

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