Wearable PEEP Mouthpiece Improves Oxygenation in COVID-19 Patients

Thomas Waggoner

Pima Heart & Vascular, United States.

Abstract

We evaluated a medical device in the form of a mouthpiece that functions as a two way PEEP valve and is used by nonintubated/responsive patients and evaluated its performance in COVID-19 cases to improve oxygen level.

We observed 5 patients with COVID-19 infection and pulmonary compromised, defined as pulse oximetry (POx) percent less than 93. We recorded POx, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure at baseline and again after 5, 10, and 15 min. of device use. After the device was removed, we recorded these measurements again 15 min. post device removal.

No adverse events experienced during this study. Measurements were compared using a one-tailed T-test statistical analysis. Mean POx at baseline was 91%. There was a statistically significant increase in oxygen levels with the PEEP mouthpiece. Increased means POx’s observed were 94.2% (p=0.01) at 5 min., at 95% (p=0.004) at 10 min., and 94.8% (0=0.01) at 15 min. At 15 min. post removal, POx mean decreased to 91.2% (p=0.02). When comparing all data points in aggregate, there was a statistically significant increase in oxygen levels at all data points and conversely a significant decrease in oxygen levels after removal of the device. All other metrics observed clinically significant trends.

The novel PEEP mouthpiece results in a statically significant improvement in oxygen levels in COVID-19 patients with compromised lung function. Further studies are necessary to determine the utility of the device in a larger study population and with longer duration of use.

We observed 5 patients with COVID-19 infection and pulmonary compromised, defined as pulse oximetry (POx) percent less than 93. We recorded POx, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure at baseline and again after 5, 10, and 15 min. of device use. After the device was removed, we recorded these measurements again 15 min. post device removal.

No adverse events experienced during this study. Measurements were compared using a one-tailed T-test statistical analysis. Mean POx at baseline was 91%. There was a statistically significant increase in oxygen levels with the PEEP mouthpiece. Increased means POx’s observed were 94.2% (p=0.01) at 5 min., at 95% (p=0.004) at 10 min., and 94.8% (0=0.01) at 15 min. At 15 min. post removal, POx mean decreased to 91.2% (p=0.02). When comparing all data points in aggregate, there was a statistically significant increase in oxygen levels at all data points and conversely a significant decrease in oxygen levels after removal of the device. All other metrics observed clinically significant trends

The novel PEEP mouthpiece results in a statically significant improvement in oxygen levels in COVID-19 patients with compromised lung function. Further studies are necessary to determine the utility of the device in a larger study population and with longer duration of use.

Biography:

Dr. Waggoner has graduated medical school at at The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, was chief medicine resident at Seton Hall University and chief cardiology fellow at Northside Hospital in Florida. He did his Interventional cardiology, Structural Heart and Endovascular training at Deborah Heart and Lung Institute in New Jersey. He is medical director of the structural heart program and cardiovascular research program at TMC HealthCare. He aslo serves as a principle investigator in multiple ongoing clinical research studies and is a published research author.

Recent Publications:

• Forb Dynamics in Savanna Ecosystems

• Ecology and Conservation of Chondrilla chondrilloides

• Gute Aussichten für den Alpen-Knorpellattich in Deutschland? Erste Ergebnisse von Monitoring und Wiederansiedlung lassen hoffen

• A dominance shift in arid savanna: An herbaceous legume outcompetes local C4 grasses

• The effects of soft-contact lens disinfection solutions on rabbit corneal epithelium