Oxygen and Covid

In severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, death occurs as a result of hypo-oxygenation of peripheral tissues. The lung, severely damaged, can not ensure the transfer of oxygen to the blood. It is necessary to increase the alveolar concentration of oxygen by supplementation, with or without mechanical ventilation. The relatively poor outcomes are related to the fact that the entire chain of oxygen transport to the mitochondria is compromised. The oxygen transport capacity is drastically reduced especially by overproduction of immature red blood cells and hemoglobin damage. The oxygen excess is toxic to the lung, causing characteristic lesions that evolve to fibrosis and that add to the respiratory distress induced by COVID19. The administration of oxygen in a concentration well above the level in the atmosphere causes a real explosion of oxidizing free radicals, which are particularly aggressive.

It is recommended to use oxygen sparingly, at the borderline of coverage of the demand, for a duration as limited as possible, as well as the combination of antioxidants.