Scientists have studied the effects of breathing effort on the lungs of people who suffer from acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19. They don't have very good news!

Some patients with COVID-19 may develop acute respiratory failure, which is associated with increased respiratory effort. These people breathe quickly and too deeply. Hence the concern among physicians that too much breathing effort could lead to an increase in intrapulmonary pressure, and hence to further lung damage.

The so-called self-induced lung injury is considered a controversial concept among specialists in anaesthesiology and intensive care. Some of them claim that it is impossible, let alone not confirmed by any evidence. On the other hand, other doctors are convinced that such cases occur and then these patients should be qualified for mechanical lung ventilation.

What is the cause of lung self-injury?

Researchers at the UK's University of Warwick, in collaboration with a team of clinicians, conducted a study to provide more evidence on the topic of lung self-injury. For the analysis, they usedcardiopulmonary simulatorused to study lung support systems.

10 COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen therapy were involved. The tidal volume and respiratory rate simulations were tested on each of them using this device. What turned out?

The results of the study showed thatlikely the increase in pulmonary pressures was caused by heavy breathing effortdue to SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to the researchers, patients with acute COVID-19 respiratory failure may be at greater risk of self-harm to their lungs from too much breathing effort.

The results of the study were published in the journal "Annals of Intensive Care".

Probe

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