Evaluation of a Low-cost CPAP Device on Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the preliminary safety and performance of a low-cost locally-made Venturi-based Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilator (NIPPV) device for hypoxemic COVID-19 patients. The device administers Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy using the jet-mixing or Venturi effect to increase the volume flow rate of oxygenated air from a pressurized cylinder by entraining the atmospheric air. To provide CPAP therapy, this high flow of oxygenated air is delivered to the patient via a low-cost non-vented mask with a tight seal with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter connected to the exhalation limb. The tight seal and HEPA filter ensures a minimal risk of aerosol generation and thus the device can be used without a negative pressure room. The system consists of the developed Venturi-based flow-generator, a standard 22mm breathing tube, a standard Y-connector, a non-vented CPAP mask (e.g., snorkel mask, helmet), a HEPA filter, and a Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) valve. The bench-top testing of the device is done in the laboratories of BUET and was verified that the device performs within the CPAP guidelines provided by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), UK. This study aims to assess the safety of and efficacy of the device in three different steps: (1) design validation, (2) clinical feasibility and (3) pilot clinical trial for safety and efficacy evaluation. Only if the device successfully passes the parts 1 and 2, the investigators will proceed to the final clinical trial in step 3. In this final step, the investigators aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating for non-inferiority of the CPAP intervention compared to standard HFNO treatment. The number of ventilator-free days will be used as the primary outcome for efficacy, while patient recovery, death, or need of intubation and other adverse events will be used as secondary outcomes.

Conditions

• Covid19
• Hypoxemia

Interventions

DEVICE

High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) treatment

Administration of High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) to patients who did not respond to standard low-flow oxygen therapy (non-rebreather mask on 15L/min). Adjust flow-rate and FiO2 as per standard HFNO treatment protocol.

DEVICE

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy using OxyJet

Administer CPAP to patients who did not respond to standard low-flow oxygen therapy (non-rebreather mask on 15L/min). CPAP initiated with FiO2 at 40% and a 10cm PEEP. Titrate PEEP to 15 cm if required. Deliver additional oxygen via secondary port if a higher FiO2 is required.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dhaka Medical College

  collaborator OTHER

• Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dr. Taufiq Hasan, PhD · Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

• Dr. Robed Amin, MBBS, FCPS · Dhaka Medical College

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-04-17

Primary Completion

2021-07-09

Completion

2021-08-09

Countries

• Bangladesh

Study Locations