It is now well established that the helmet used for ventilation is often the alternative solution to intubation for patients affected by Covid-19. It looks like the helmet used by divers but allows patients with severe respiratory insufficiency, such as those with the pneumonia from Covid-19, to breathe. The helmet was invented and produced in Italy and it is almost only Italian resuscitators who use it. A study just published on the scientific journal Jama, demonstrates that the Italian way to non-invasive respiratory support, with this helmet, can be successful in patients infected by the virus because it reduces the need for intubation by 40 percent.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to run fast from one end of our country to the other. In fact, the Ministry of Health reports that they have been registered in Italy in the last 24 hours 23.649 new positive cases (yesterday 23.904). The new deaths are 501 (yesterday 467); the discharged healed are 20.712 (yesterday 23.744). Currently the positive cases are altogether 563.479 (yesterday 562.508). The swabs made in the last 24 hours are 356.085 (yesterday 351.221). In intensive care there are 3.681 Covid patients; in home isolation they still remain 530.849 people infected with the virus.
The helmet that avoids intubation
Domenico Luca Grieco and Massimo Antonelli (for the Covid-Icu Gemelli Study Group) suggest that the helmet might be the best way to to breathe'Covid patients. This, in order to reduce the use of intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation. “The helmet is an all-Italian approach. Its use is not frequent abroad ". This was stated by Grieco, resuscitator in the intensive care of the Columbus Covid2 Hospital-Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation Irccs. The doctor points out: “On the other hand, high-flow oxygen therapy has so far been considered the gold standard for these patients. as indicated by the guidelines for patients with severe hypoxemia of 2020 ".
In this regard he also intervenes Massimo Antonelli, director of Anesthesia, Intensive Care, Intensive Care and Clinical Toxicology of the Agostino Gemelli Irccs University Hospital Foundation. As well as full professor of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Catholic University, Rome campus. “The study - he maintains - is funded by the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (Siaarti). The Rimini Hospital and the Universities of Ferrara, Chieti and Bologna also collaborate ”.
The association 'Aiutiamoci'
The work is the result of a study conducted between October 2020 and February 2021 on 109 patients identified in some Italian intensive care units. Five Italian entrepreneurs also believed in helmets for patients with Covid-19: Flavio Cattaneo, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Diego Della Valle, Isabella Seragnoli and Alberto Vacchi. Indeed, last spring, through the association 'Let's help each other', founded by them, have bought several hundred, to donate them to various Italian regions.