Abstract:

Treatment of de novo acute hypoxic respiratory failure is not recommended by current Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) guidelines as it does not seem to improve patients outcome. Many cases of acute hypoxic respiratory failure associated with Sars-Cov2 infection (SARI) have been observed during Sars-Cov2 pandemic. So far, data are missing regarding the use of NIV, but a correct identification of subgroups of patients based on different clinical, patho-physiological and radiological features, might be helpful for stratifying patients and choosing the correct respiratory support (invasive versus non-invasive). In case of NIV appliance, risk of environmental virus dispersion is particularly elevated; therefore, extreme attention by operators is required.

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