Beneficial effects of inhaled surfactant in patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Background: We have investigated the use of nebulized surfactant as a potential therapeutic option for the patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) undergoing non-invasive ventilation.

Methods: The patients were divided into 2 groups: surfactant (n = 33) and control (n = 32). The subjects in the surfactant group received the inhaled surfactant at daily dose of 150-300 mg. The oxygenation parameters and several clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Results: On the 5 day of therapy, PaO₂/FiO₂ improved significantly in the surfactant group compared to the control group (184 (155-212) mmHg vs 150 (91-173) mmHg, p = 0.02). The inhaled surfactant significantly reduced the need for transfer of patients to intensive care units (24.2% vs 46.9%, p = 0.05) and invasive mechanical ventilation (18.2% vs 40.6%, p = 0.04). Even more, the nebulized surfactant shortened the length of non-invasive ventilation (7 (3-13) days vs 11 (5-22) days, p = 0.02) and time spent in hospital (18 (16-27) days vs 26 (21-31) days, p = 0.003) in patients suffering from COVID-19-linked ARDS.

Conclusions: Our preliminary data provided indications that inhaled surfactant therapy may represent a promising option for patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS. However, larger clinical trials are crucially needed.

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; COVID-19; Inhalation; Surfactant.