This paper describes the recommendations of an expert panel on caring for critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19.
A panel of 36 experts from 12 countries proposed 53 questions relevant to the management of COVID-19 in the ICU. They reviewed the literature for evidence on this topic, and identified relevant systematic reviews on most questions relating to supportive care. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach ane generated recommendations based on the balance between benefit and harm, resource and cost implications, equity, and feasibility.
They issued 54 statements. Four are best practice statements, nine are strong recommendations, and 35 are weak recommendations. For six they provided no recommendation.
The topics were:
- infection control
- laboratory diagnosis and specimens
- hemodynamic support
- ventilatory support
- COVID-19 therapy.
