Intensive care management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): challenges and recommendations

Abstract

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads across the world, the intensive care unit (ICU) community must prepare for the challenges associated with this pandemic. Streamlining of workflows for rapid diagnosis and isolation, clinical management, and infection prevention will matter not only to patients with COVID-19, but also to health-care workers and other patients who are at risk from nosocomial transmission. Management of acute respiratory failure and haemodynamics is key. ICU practitioners, hospital administrators, governments, and policy makers must prepare for a substantial increase in critical care bed capacity, with a focus not just on infrastructure and supplies, but also on staff management. Critical care triage to allow the rationing of scarce ICU resources might be needed. Researchers must address unanswered questions, including the role of repurposed and experimental therapies. Collaboration at the local, regional, national, and international level offers the best chance of survival for the critically ill.

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Affiliated Institutions

• University of Ulsan KR
• National University Hospital SG
• National University Health System SG
• Alexandra Hospital SG
• King Abdulaziz Medical City SA
• Tan Tock Seng Hospital SG
• Tata Memorial Hospital IN
• Tokushima Prefectural Central Hospital JP
• Kobe University Hospital JP
• King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences SA
• Prince of Wales Hospital HK
• Ulsan College KR
• Chinese University of Hong Kong HK
• Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital NP
• King Abdullah International Medical Research Center SA
• Homi Bhabha National Institute IN
• Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College CN
• Peking Union Medical College Hospital CN
• Asan Medical Center KR

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