Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Treat COVID-19 Patients With Respiratory Distress

Using the Monoplace Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers we will be providing COVID- 19 positive patients with mild-to-moderate distress 100% oxygen at 2.0 ATA for 90 minutes on consecutive days for a total of up to 5 treatments. A comparison will be made using a historical cohort not receiving HBOT. Data will be collected to determine whether or not HBOT is of any benefit to COVID-19 positive patient with mild-to-moderate respiratory distress.

Study Group: Provide 100% oxygen at 2.0 ATA for 90 minutes on consecutive days for a total of up to 5 treatment to COVID-19 patients meeting inclusion criteria Control Group: Any COVID-19 positive patient meeting study inclusion criteria that does not receive HBOT (historical) The control group is further defined as patients who were previously treated for COVID-19 at Morton Hospital that did not receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This will require accessing medical records to obtain patient information to establish the historical control data metric.

Study outcome measures:

• Time to normalize 02 requirement (ambient air pulse ox greater than or equal to 92% or ABG w/Pa02 greater than 60mmHG on air)
• Mortality
• Days free of invasive mechanical ventilation

Inclusion criteria

• Verified COVID-19 infection
• Patient w/02 dependence of less than or equal to 6 liter/min to maintain pulse ox greater than or equal to 92% or arterial gas w/PA02 greater than 60mm HG

Exclusion criteria

• Not diagnosed w/COVID-19 infection
• Pregnancy
• DNR or other restrictions in escalation of level of care
• Contraindication for HBO
• Blood pressure parameters which are deemed unstable by clinical team
• Patients who require continuous ECG and/or continuous blood pressure monitoring, and with arterial lines
• Patients requiring rewarming
• Patients requiring any kind of invasive catheter/pressure monitoring
• Patients requiring continuous support of intravenous medication
• Minor subject (less than 18 years old)
• Refusal to participate
• Signs of respiratory decompensation requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation
• 02 dependence greater than or equal to 6L/minute to obtain Sa02 greater than or equal to 92% or ABG w/Pa02 >60mmHg