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Review
. 2020 Aug;46(8):1563-1566.
doi: 10.1007/s00134-020-06154-8. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Inhalational volatile-based sedation for COVID-19 pneumonia and ARDS

Angela Jerath  1   2   3   4 , Niall D Ferguson  5   6 , Brian Cuthbertson  5   7   8
Affiliations
Review

Inhalational volatile-based sedation for COVID-19 pneumonia and ARDS

Angela Jerath et al. Intensive Care Med. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Hospitals worldwide are experiencing a shortage in essential intravenous sedative medications. This is attributable to high number and high sedative needs of COVID-19 critical care patients with disruption of drug supply chains. Inhaled volatile anesthetic agents are an abundant resource and readily implementable solution for providing ICU sedation. Inhaled volatile agents may also provide important pulmonary benefits for COVID-19 patients with ARDS that could improve gas exchange and reduce time spent on a ventilator. We review the use of volatile agents, and provide a technical overview and algorithm for administering inhaled volatile-based sedation in ICUs.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID-19; Sedation; Ventilation; Volatile anesthetics.

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Conflict of interest statement

AJ and NDF have consulted for Sedana Medical, Sweden. NDF has received fees from Getinge and Xenios. AJ and BC have received funds from the Innovation Fund of the Alternative Funding Plan for the Academic Health Sciences Centres of Ontario.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Algorithm for initiating and commencing inhaled volatile-based sedation regimen for ARDS
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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