Fig. 1.
Example of algorithm (authors’ viewpoint) for the initial management and monitoring of patients with de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure with no preexisting cardiac or pulmonary diseases or metabolic acidosis/alkalosis. This approach is specifically intended for de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and is not intended for acute respiratory failure due to cardiogenic pulmonary edema and post-operative respiratory failure. *For patients undergoing standard oxygen through a non-rebreathing facemask, FiO2 can be estimated as: 21% + oxygen flow rate in L/min × 3. Acronyms. PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure. PS pressure support. ΔPES esophageal pressure inspiratory swing. VTe expired tidal volume. P-SILI patient self-inflicted lung injury, VAS visual analog scale, HACOR composite scale including heart rate, acidosis, consciousness, oxygenation and respiratory rate