Is non-invasive ventilation an option for a COVID-19 patient?
There are limited data on the efficacy and safety of NIV in the context of viral pandemics. Experience with Infuenza A (H1N1) showed that NIV failed in 57-85% of patients, with failing patients having a higher ICU mortality than those treated with invasive mechanical ventilation. Experience with the COVID-19 patient group in Wuhan showed a similar failure rate of NIV.
In addition, non-invasive ventilation is an aerosol-generating procedure, which puts medical professionals in the field in high risk of contraction of Covid-19.
Therefore, there has been a general suggestion that NIV should be avoided for Covid-19 patients.
Consensus statement: Safe Airway Society principles of airway management and tracheal intubation specific to the COVID-19 adult patient group
Brewster D., Chrimes N. et al.
Med J Aust , Published online: 16 March 2020
Staff safety during emergency airway management for COVID-19 in Hong Kong
Cheung, Jonathan Chun-Hei et al.
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Published online:February 24, 2020
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30084-9/fulltext