الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The whole world had suffered during the pandemic of COVID-19 as the virus has the ability of rapid and wide spread with a variable range of manifestations from asymptomatic and mild infection to severe illness that requires hospitalization and ICU admission for mechanical ventilation.
Due to the potential of the viral infection to progress to AHRF coupled with the highly contagious nature of the virus, the health care systems have been overwhelmed globally due to the increased number of cases.
The main therapy for patients presenting with AHRF is high concentrations of inhaled oxygen. When conventional oxygen therapy devices as nasal cannula and face mask fail to improve the clinical condition, escalation of oxygen therapy should be considered.
Invasive Mechanical Ventilation is associated with many disadvantages and complications. Also the shortage of ventilators was another global problem that faced the health care systems worldwide. So, NIV techniques as HFNC and CPAP had gained a great concern to be considered as respiratory modalities for oxygen supply in COVID-19 patients presented with AHRF who didn’t need urgent intubation.
The aim of the present study is to compare the effect of HFNC vs. CPAP on preventing endotracheal intubation in COVID-19 patients.
This is an observational comparative prospective cohort study that was carried out on 40 patients diagnosed with AHRF due to COVID-19 in the Critical Care Medicine Department of Alexandria University Hospitals. The patients were divided into two groups 20 patients for HFNC (group I) and 20 patients for CPAP (group II).
In this study, the results showed no significant difference between HFNC and CPAP regarding prevention of intubation in COVID-19 patients with AHRF. Both of them have a beneficial effect on improving hypoxemia and reducing the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation.
So, we recommend the use of NIV techniques for COVID-19 patients with AHRF who don’t need urgent intubation, as IMV is associated with more complications and higher mortality rates.