RESUMO
Objectives: In our study, we aimed to determine the effect of vitamin C on short-term mortality and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) followed up in the ICU. Methods: The patients who received and those who did not receive the high-dose intravenous vitamin C protocol were assigned to the treatment and control groups, respectively. The primary study findings in both groups were length of ICU stay and short-term mortality, while the secondary findings were vasopressor and invasive mechanical ventilation requirements and change in sequential organ failure assessment score from the 0 to the 96th hour. Results: Thirty-eight patients were included in the treatment group and 40 were included in the control group. The mortality rates were 44% and 60% in the treatment and control groups, respectively; however, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The median length of ICU stay in both groups was 10 days (p>0.05). No significant differences in the invasive mechanical ventilation and vasopressor requirements were found between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Consequently, the high-dose vitamin C therapy in the patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia did not reduce the length of ICU stay, mortality, and invasive mechanical ventilation and vasopressor reqirements.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of early awake prone position administration on oxygenation and intubation requirements and short-term mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. METHODS: This is an observational-cohort study. Patients receiving mask oxygen therapy in our intensive care units because of acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia were included. The Awake Prone Position (APP) group consisted of patients who were applied awake prone position, whereas non-APP group consisted of patients who were not applied awake prone position. PaCO2, PaO2, pH, SpO2 values and PaO2/FiO2 ratios were recorded at the beginning and 24th hour. Demographic data, comorbidities, intubation requirements, ventilator-free days, length of intensive care unit stay and short-term mortality of the patients were recorded. RESULTS: The data of total 225 patients were examined, and 48 patients who met our study criteria were included. At the 24th hour, the median SpO2 value of the APP group was 95%, the median PaO2 value was 82 mmHg, whereas the SpO2 value of the non-APP group was 90% and the PaO2 value was 66 mmHg. (p = 0.001, p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in length of intensive care unit stay and ventilator-free days, but short-term mortality and intubation requirements was lower in the APP group (p = 0.020, p = 0.001) CONCLUSION: Awake prone position application in patients receiving non-rebreather mask oxygen therapy for respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia improves oxygenation and decreases the intubation requirements and mortality.
