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Humidifier Use and Prone Positioning in a Patient with Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia and Endotracheal Tube Impaction Due to Highly Viscous Sputum #MMPMID32550095
Sugimoto R; Kenzaka T; Fujikawa M; Kawasaki S; Nishisaki H
Cureus 2020[Jun]; 12 (6): e8626 PMID32550095show ga
COVID-19 can lead to severe pneumonia, requiring mechanical ventilation. While increased sputum secretion could cause airway obstruction during mechanical ventilation, there are few reported cases in the literature. We report a case of a 65-year-old man with diabetes and severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation and treated with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, nafamostat, and prone positioning. Initially, mechanical ventilation consisted of a heat moisture exchanger, endotracheal tube aspiration, and subglottic secretion drainage using a closed suction system. However, endotracheal tube impaction by highly viscous sputum occurred during this mechanical ventilation system. Replacing the endotracheal tube, the use of a humidifier instead of a heat moisture exchanger, and prone positioning contributed to the patient being weaned off mechanical ventilation. Although anti-aerosol measures are important for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, attention should be given to potential endotracheal tube impaction during mechanical ventilation.