The Role of Alveolar Edema in COVID-19

Cells

Si-Cong Jiang¹  Shu Yuan²  Yu-Fan Fu²  Zhong-Wei Zhang²  Zi-Lin Li³  Jing Hu⁴ 

[1] Chengdu Kang Hong Pharmaceutical Group Comp. Ltd., Chengdu 610036, China;College of Resources, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China;Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Medical University of the Air Force, Xi’an 710032, China;School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China;

关键词: SARS-CoV-2;    endothelial injuries;    ventilation-perfusion mismatch;    intravascular coagulation;    alveolar edema;    oxygen therapy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cells10081897

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread over the world for more than one year. COVID-19 often develops life-threatening hypoxemia. Endothelial injury caused by the viral infection leads to intravascular coagulation and ventilation-perfusion mismatch. However, besides above pathogenic mechanisms, the role of alveolar edema in the disease progression has not been discussed comprehensively. Since the exudation of pulmonary edema fluid was extremely serious in COVID-19 patients, we bring out a hypothesis that severity of alveolar edema may determine the size of poorly-ventilated area and the blood oxygen content. Treatments to pulmonary edema (conservative fluid management, exogenous surfactant replacements and ethanol–oxygen vapor therapy hypothetically) may be greatly helpful for reducing the occurrences of severe cases. Given that late mechanical ventilation may cause mucus (edema fluid) to be blown deep into the small airways, oxygen therapy should be given at the early stages. The optimal time and blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) threshold for oxygen therapy are also discussed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown