The use of electrical impedance tomography for individualized ventilation strategy in COVID-19: a case report

Zhao, Zhanqi; Zhang, Jin-Shou; Chen, Ying-Tzu; Chang, Hou-Tai; Hsu, Yeong-Long; Frerichs, Inéz; Adler, Andy

BACKGROUND: Clinical management of COVID-19 requires close monitoring of lung function. While computed tomography (CT) offers ideal way to identify the phenotypes, it cannot monitor the patient response to therapeutic interventions. We present a case of ventilation management for a COVID-19 patient where electrical impedance tomography (EIT) was used to personalize care. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, required invasive mechanical ventilation, and was subsequently weaned. EIT was used multiple times: to titrate the positive end-expiratory pressure, understand the influence of body position, and guide the support levels during weaning and after extubation. We show how EIT provides bedside monitoring of the patient´s response to various therapeutic interventions and helps guide treatments. CONCLUSION: EIT provides unique information that may help the ventilation management in the pandemic of COVID-19.