Mechanical Ventilation for Severe COVID-19 ARDS

Inclusion criteria were: (a) age > 18 years; (b) confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection; (c) need of invasive mechanical ventilation; (d) meeting the Berlin criteria definition for ARDS. Patients were excluded from the study in case of pregnancy or do-not-resuscitate order. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay (Liaison MDX, Diasorin, Saluggia, Italy) from nasopharyngeal swab specimen or tracheal aspirate. Clinical management was in accordance with current guidelines and specific recommendations for the COVID-19 pandemic by Health Authorities and Scientific Societies [16 (link)].