Endothelial shear stress enhancements: a potential solution for critically ill Covid-19 patients

Sayed Nour
2020 BioMedical Engineering OnLine  
AbstractMost critically ill Covid-19 patients succumb to multiple organ failure and/or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) as a result of comorbid endothelial dysfunction disorders which had probably aggravated by conventional mechanical assist devices. Even worse, mechanical ventilators prevent the respiratory pump from performing its crucial function as a potential generator of endothelial shear stress (ESS) which controls microcirculation and hemodynamics since birth. The purpose of this work is to
more » ... ring our experience with ESS enhancement and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) management as a potential therapeutic solution in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We propose a non-invasive device composed of thoracic and infradiaphragmatic compartments that will be pulsated in an alternating frequency (20/40 bpm) with low-pressure pneumatic generator (0.1–0.5 bar). Oxygen supply, nasogastric with, or without endotracheal tubes are considered.
doi:10.1186/s12938-020-00835-7 pmid:33272285 fatcat:7wlg3k3canbftfbm77kpmt4qkq