ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The WHO, broadcasted COVID 19 as a public health emergency onJANUARY 30th ,2020 and subsequently declared a pandemic on MARCH 11th2020.Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major complication of COVID-19that occurs in 20-41% of patients with severe disease.The pathophysiology of ARDS andCOVID-19 lung injury share many of the same aspects of reduced lung parenchymalcompliance, vasculopathy, alveolar flooding, and gas exchange impairment arising fromdirect infectious causes and noninfectious injuries.In patients with pneumonia,HFNOallows improved mobilisation of secretions,minimises oxygen dilution,meets inspiratorydemands and improve end-expiratory lung volumes.According to the present theories,prone positioning, by reducing ventral alveolar expansion and dorsal alveolar collapse,results in ventilation that is more homogeneous.OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study is to evaluate the reduction in consumption of oxygenby using proning as an adjunct to HFNO in patients of COVID 19 admitted in ICU.METHOD: This is an observational cross sectional type of study, which includes patientswho were hemodynamically stable and required HFNO to maintain oxygenation. Allpatients were counselled for the benefits of proning. Proning was done with the help ofnursing staff. All vitals were noted before proning and all throughout proning. We keptpatients in a prone position till patients were comfortable and duration of proning wasnoted. We titrated oxygen requirement (FIO2 and flow) to target spo2 level of 93-95%.RESULT: We studied in 26 patients on HFNO with proning, we found that proning helpsin 11-50% reduction in oxygen requirement to achieve target Spo2 level.The mean value ofoxygen consumption was 20833.27 L/HR with only use of HFNO which was more than15996.92 L/HR when patients were encouraged to be prone along with the use ofHFNO.The collected data was analysed and unpaired t test was applied after which p valueof 0.0154 was obtained, which is statistically significant.CONCLUSION: Based on this study it is concluded that there is significant reduction inconsumption of oxygen by using the prone position as an adjunct to HFNO in patients ofCOVID 19.