Impact of Intermediate Respiratory Care Units during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Abstract

Historically, respiratory care medicine and critical care medicine have developed along different paths during their evolution. We are currently going through a pandemic caused by a virus, SARS-CoV-2, where the disease is characterized by triggering Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF). During the outbreak of COVID-19, many hospitals collapsed their ICUs and had to expand to other sectors where services of different specialties were performed. The main focus of these units is cardiorespiratory monitoring and treatment of respiratory failure using non-invasive respiratory supports. These units, in pandemia, would be a relief to avoid ICU overload, performing an early approach and treatment of ARF, reducing endotracheal intubation, hospital stay and healthcare costs.