Descriptive account of the first use of the LeVe CPAP System, a new frugal CPAP System, in adult patients with COVID-19 Pneumonitis in Uganda

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Anna Littlejohns, Helen Please, Racheal Musasizi, Stuart Murdoch, Gorret Nampiina, Ian Waters, William Davis Birch, Gregory de Boer, Nikil Kapur, Tumwesigye Ambrozi, Ninsiima Carol, Nakigudde Noel, Jiten Parmar, Peter Culmer, Tom Lawton, Edith Namulema
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2023
• Subjects: LMIC; CPAP; NIV; COVID-19; Pandemic; Sustainability; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00533-9; https://doaj.org/article/352a33db1d5f492587a8aa53fa81b8ae

Abstract Background Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been a key treatment modality for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. Globally, the demand for CPAP outstripped the supply during the pandemic. The LeVe CPAP System was developed to provide respiratory support for treatment of COVID-19 and tailored for use in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. Prior to formal trial approval, received in November 2021, these devices were used in extremis to support critically unwell adult patients requiring non-invasive ventilatory support. Methods This is a retrospective descriptive review of adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis, who were treated with advanced respiratory support (CPAP and/or high-flow nasal oxygen, HFNO) at Mengo Hospital, Uganda. Patients were treated with the LeVe CPAP System, Elisa CPAP and/or AIRVO™ HFNO. Treatment was escalated per standard local protocols for respiratory failure, and CPAP was the maximum respiratory support available. Data were collected on patient characteristics, length of time of treatment, clinical outcome, and any adverse events. Results Overall 333 patients were identified as COVID-19 positive, 44 received CPAP ± HFNO of which 43 were included in the study. The median age was 58 years (range 28–91 years) and 58% were female. The median duration of advanced respiratory support was 7 days (range 1–18 days). Overall (all device) mortality was 49% and this was similar between those started on the LeVe CPAP System and those started non-LeVe CPAP System devices (50% vs 47%). Conclusions The LeVe CPAP system was the most used CPAP device during the pandemic, bringing the hospital’s number of available HFNO/CPAP devices from two to 14. They were a critical resource for providing respiratory support to the sickest group of patients when no alternative devices were available. The devices appear to be safe and well-tolerated with no serious adverse events recorded. This study is unable to assess the efficacy of the LeVe CPAP System; therefore, formal ...