Prolonged Use of Noninvasive Ventilation in COVID-19 Geriatric Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure, can it be Tolerated?

Abstract

We report six cases of the use of Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the COVID-19 geriatric patients with acute respiratory failure. The one case continued with intubation or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and five cases did not do IMV. The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection can occur acute respiratory failure from mild to severe. The Severe Acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 requires oxygen therapy in the form of NIV or IMV. NIV can reduce complications related to IMV, especially the incidence of nosocomial infections and complications due to invasive procedures. The geriatric group with COVID-19 has higher risk than the young group. The many comorbidities, decreased immune function and organ systems that occur in geriatrics worsening of COVID-19 symptoms and course. NIV is only an introduction or the first step before IMV is done with close monitoring before the patients get worse. The use of NIV that is not in accordance with the indications and IMV delaying can increase the risk of COVID-19 patients mortality.