Flow Controlled Ventilation in ARDS Associated With COVID-19

The pandemic of a newly upcoming viral disease which is associated with COVID-19 puts the whole world's health system under pressure. Patients suffering from this disease mainly develop respiratory symptoms, which can lead to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) necessitating ICU, admission in 10-20% of the cases admitted to hospital. In addition to these symptoms, patients show lymphopenia, cardiac symptoms and altered coagulation profiles. Although those patients are treated in the ICU the mortality is up to 20% due to multiorgan failure. The aim of this study is to show non-inferiority of flow-controlled ventilation compared to standard (lung protective ventilation). Methods: After admission to the ICU, the patients will receive information about the study and informed consent will be taken. Upon reaching the criteria for moderate to severe ARDS (P/F ratio below 200 mmHg and PEEP above 5 cmH2O) the patients will be randomized. In the treatment group (group A) the ultra-thin ventilation tube will be placed through the existing tube. Then flow-controlled ventilation will be applied for 48 hours. In the other group (group B) ventilation will be performed according to the lung protective strategy. All other treatment will be unchanged. Data-collection will be started 1 hour after initiation of the study. Primary end point is PaO2.