Clinical needs and technical requirements for ventilators for COVID-19 treatment critical patients: an evidence-based comparison for adult and pediatric age

Abstract

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, taking on pandemic proportions, is placing extraordinary and unprecedented demands on healthcare systems worldwide. The increasing number of critical patients who, experiencing respiratory failure from acute respiratory distress syndrome, need respiratory support, has been leading countries to race against time in arranging new Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and in finding affordable and practical solutions to manage patients in each stage of the disease. The simultaneous worldwide emergency caused serious problems for mechanical ventilators supply. This chaotic scenario generated, indeed, a frenetic race to buy life-saving ventilators. However, the variety of mechanical ventilators designs, together with the limitations in time and resources, make the decision-making processes on ventilators procurement crucial and not counterbalanced by the evaluation of devices quality. This paper aimed at offering an overview of how evidence-based approach for health technologies evaluation, might provide support during Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in ICUs management and critical equipment supply. We compared and combined all the publicly available indications on the essential requirements that ICU ventilators might meet to be considered acceptable for treating COVID-19 patients in severe to critical illnesses. We hope that the critical analysis of these data might help readers to understand how structured decision-making processes based on evidence, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a given medical device and the effects of its introduction in a healthcare setting, are able to optimize time and resources allocation that should be considered essential, especially during pandemic period.

An Augmented Reality–Based Guide for Mechanical Ventilator Setup: Prospective Randomized Pilot Trial

“…Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a lifesaving treatment that reduces the difficulty of breathing in patients and reverses acute life-threatening respiratory failure [ 1 ]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of acute respiratory failure increased, leading to an increase in the demand for not only physical resources, such as ventilators and intensive care unit (ICU) beds, but also the ability to provide MV care expertise [ 2 - 4 ]. Effective and continuous MV education is important because adequate MV support improves clinical outcomes [ 5 - 8 ].…”

A European arena for joint innovation in healthcare: The Platform for Innovation of Procurement and Procurement of Innovation (PiPPi)

“…Finally, it should also be mentioned that medical procurement and innovation has been greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-term adjustments included increased procurement efforts for personal protective equipment ( 23 ) and medical devices like ventilators ( 24 ), as well as EU-level modifications to the formal innovation procurement process in order to streamline and shorten time requirements ( 25 ). A greater focus on digital solutions and eHealth models is expected to be a lasting change in the field, however ( 26 – 28 ).…”

3D-printed activated charcoal inlet filters for oxygen concentrators: A circular economy approach

“…Currently, this situation is being exacerbated by the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last year, in fact, the demand for oxygen concentrators and ventilators by health facilities drastically increased, as they can play a vital role in the treatment of critical-condition patients infected with COVID-19 ( Andellini et al, 2020 ; Bhisey 2020 , Howie et al, 2020 ; WHO 2021 ). Currently, oxygen concentrators are enlisted in the WHO's priority MDs list for the COVID-19 response.…”