ABSTRACT
SESSION TITLE: Medications and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COVID-19 Posters SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/18/2022 01:30 pm - 02:30 pm PURPOSE: The use of inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO) has demonstrated improvement in outcomes for patients with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. iEPO has been used as a rescue therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and has been shown to improve oxygenation, reduce shunting, and decrease pulmonary artery pressures. However, pulmonary vasodilators do not improve mortality in patients with ARDS. Furthermore, there is currently little data on the efficacy of iEPO via high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for ARDS patients. Here, we describe our experience with iEPO in our patients with COVID-19-related ARDS on HFNC in a Northern California county hospital. METHODS: From March 2020 to December 2021, 74 patients with COVID-19 infection and related ARDS were placed on HFNC and received iEPO, at a public tertiary care center. A positive response to iEPO was defined as an increase P/F ratio of 10%, increase in PaO2 of 20%, decrease in FiO2, or reduced flow rate within 24 hours of initiation of iEPO. Non-parametric statistics were used to compare groups. RESULTS: 21 women and 53 men with COVID ARDS ranging from 30-86 years of age (mean age 60.1 ± 13.9) received iEPO while on HFNC. The mean hospital length of stay was 36.3 ± 43 days. All patients received steroids and 83.8% received antibiotics. 55.4% of all patients in the study (n=41) progressed to mechanical ventilation and 58.1% (n=43) survived to discharge, mean age 57 ± 14 years. 20.3% (n=15) of patients showed a response to iEPO. Patients who responded to iEPO were significantly less likely to progress to mechanical ventilation (13% vs 66%, p=0.0003) and more likely to survive to discharge (93% vs 49%, p=0.0021). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with COVID ARDS on HFNC, patients who respond to iEPO are less likely to progress to mechanical ventilation and more likely to survive to discharge. Our study is limited by small sample size and lack of randomization. Use of iEPO in the right subset COVID ARDS on HFNC may improve outcomes. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Patients on HFNC selected for initiation of iEPO had a poor overall prognosis, with 41.9% not surviving to discharge and 55.4% requiring mechanical ventilation. iEPO response correlates with not requiring mechanical ventilation and with increased likelihood of survival to discharge. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Heng Duong No relevant relationships by Craig Ivie No relevant relationships by Neharika Khurana No relevant relationships by Connie Park No relevant relationships by Natasha Puri No relevant relationships by Adam Thompson No relevant relationships by John Wehner