Lung Injury (Pulmonary Edema) in COVID-19: Treatment With Furosemide and Negative Fluid Balance (NEGBAL)

In COVID-19, pulmonary edema has been attributed to "cytokine storm". However, it is known that SARS-CoV-2 promotes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 deficiency, it increases angiotensin II and this triggers volume overload. The current study is based on patients with COVID-19, tomographic evidence of pulmonary edema and volume overload. These patients received a standard goal-guided diuretic (furosemide) treatment: Negative Fluid Balance (NEGBAL) approach. This retrospective observational study consists of comparing two groups. The cases show patients with COVID-19 and lung injury treated with NEGBAL approach comparing it to the control group consisting of patients with COVID-19 and lung injury receiving standard treatment. Medical records of 120 critically ill patients (60 in NEGBAL group and 60 in control group) were reviewed: demographic, clinical, laboratory, blood gas and chest tomography (CT) before and during NEGBAL. Once NEGBAL strategy started, different aspects were evaluated: clinical, gasometric and biochemical evolution until the 8th day, tomography until the 12th day, ICU stay, hospital stay and morbidity and mortality until the 30th day.