Secondary outcomes were clinical characteristics, ventilator parameters, mortality and length of stay between patients with and without barotrauma. Primary outcome was the incidence of barotrauma in COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 patients. PubMed was searched from March 1 st, 2020 to August 31 st, 2021 case series and retrospective cohort studies concerning barotrauma in adult critically ill COVID-19 patients, either hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or invasively ventilated were included. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of barotrauma among critically ill COVID-19 patients. Its incidence seems increased among critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Barotrauma is rare in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome undergoing mechanical ventilation.
