Investigation in mechanically ventilated patients with with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) is emerging due to presumed differences with typical ARDS from other origin. Considering these issues, the effects of ventilatory strategies such as positive end expiratory pressure, end inspiratory pause and fraction of inspired oxygen on respiratory mechanics and gas exchange must be studied in order to characterize the behavior of COVID-19 ARDS during invasive mechanical ventilation and choose the best combination of ventilatory settings.
In this study the investigators will evaluate the changes in respiratory mechanics and gas exchange produced by low and high positive end expiratory pressure, low and high inspired oxygen fraction and the application of end inspiratory pause during volume controlled mechanical ventilation.
