Clearwater, FL, Mar 31, 2020 – Some clinicians are currently inquiring if CPAP therapy can be used with COVID-19 patients. According to the many experts, the response is an overwhelming YES!
Josh Farkas MD, associate professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Vermont states, “COVID patients really need positive pressure more than anything else. For example, their work of breathing is often tolerable – so they may not need much mechanical support for the work of breathing (indeed, mechanical support could lead to injuriously large tidal volumes).” The best modality to provide lots of positive pressure is simply Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP may not seem dramatic, but this modality actually provides the greatest amount of positive pressure to allow for the most powerful recruitment.” https://emcrit.org/pulmcrit/cpap-covid/
Importantly, recently communicated new findings from the Intensive Care Society, (ICS), state, “CPAP may be of benefit to patients, (COVID-19), earlier on in the disease process than first thought and may prevent deterioration of some patients to the extent of them not going on to need invasive ventilation.”
https://www.ficm.ac.uk/news-events-education/news/letter-regarding-use-continuous-positive-airway-pressure-cpap-covid-19
Mercury Medical markets technology that can provide both CPAP and Bilevel therapies using low cost Flow-Safe CPAP and Bilevel CPAP disposable devices. Current research supports the use of Flow-Safe Disposable CPAP devices.
In addition, The American Journal of Emergency Medicine concludes that a disposable CPAP device, (Flow-Safe II® Mercury Medical®), is just as effective as a mechanical portable ventilator (Philips Respironics Trilogy 202). https://www.mercurymed.com/wp-content/uploads/CPAP_vs_NIMV.pdf
A continuum of care protocol can be established by placing COVID-19 patients on a disposable CPAP/Bilevel device upon entry to the EMS vehicle / ER Department; maintaining the same device during the hospital stay until an intensive care ventilator is indicated. The Flow-Safe disposable CPAP / Bilevel devices are packaged with non-vented full face deluxe masks. When used with an expiratory filter, they may reduce the incidence of cross contamination, are simple to use, require little training and run on medical grade air/oxygen systems currently available in hospitals today.
For CPAP Therapy with COVID-19
Mercury Medical offers these products to provide CPAP Therapy with COVID-19 patients:
Flow-Safe II® & Flow-Safe II+® with Filter
Flow-Safe II+® Disposable BiLevel CPAP System
Flow-Safe II EZ® CPAP System with Integrated Nebulizer
Flow-Safe II® CPAP System – 50% Less Oxygen Consumption
Contact Customer Service for ordering assistance: 800-835-6633
Videos
Watch Flow-Safe II for COVID-19 Patients Video
Watch Flow-Safe II Use for COVID-19 Video
Watch Flow-Safe II+ Use for COVID-19 Video
Articles Supporting CPAP/BiLevel for COVID-19
Non-Invasive Ventilators Offer Life-Saving Treatment for Less Severe COVID Patients
With ventilators running out, doctors say the machines are overused for Covid-19
Almost 90% of COVID Patients Placed on Ventilators in New York City Died
New analysis recommends less reliance on ventilators to treat coronavirus patients
COVID-19 Infection: Implications for Perioperative and Critical Care Physicians
Care of Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19
PulmCrit – Awake Proning for COVID-19
Duty to Plan: Health Care, Crisis Standards of Care, and Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
