The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread over the world for more than one year. COVID-19 often develops life-threatening hypoxemia. Endothelial injury caused by the viral infection leads to intravascular coagulation and ventilation-perfusion mismatch. However, besides above pathogenic mechanisms, the role of alveolar edema in the disease progression has not been discussed comprehensively. Since the exudation of pulmonary edema fluid was extremely serious in COVID-19 patients, we bring out a hypothesis that severity of alveolar edema may determine the size of poorly-ventilated area and the blood oxygen content. Treatments to pulmonary edema (conservative fluid management, exogenous surfactant replacements and ethanol–oxygen vapor therapy hypothetically) may be greatly helpful for reducing the occurrences of severe cases. Given that late mechanical ventilation may cause mucus (edema fluid) to be blown deep into the small airways, oxygen therapy should be given at the early stages. The optimal time and blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) threshold for oxygen therapy are also discussed.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Oxygen therapy, intravascular coagulation, endothelial injuries, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, alveolar edema, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, viral infection, therapy, mechanical ventilation, severity, progression, Spread, Hypoxemia, edema, severe cases, Pulmonary edema, blood oxygen, threshold, COVID-19 patients, Hypothesis, Injury, airways, Blood oxygen saturation, early stages, life-threatening, pathogenic mechanisms, Fluid management, Occurrence, develop, caused, the disease, determine, reducing, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, role,