Pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies in coronavirus disease 2019: A literature review

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery 2022-05, Vol.77, p.103709-103709, Article 103709
• Main Author: González-Ruiz, Francisco J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antivirals; ECMO; Mechanical ventilation; Monoclonal antibodies; Oxygen therapy; Review
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103709

The impact on mortality associated with covid-19 today exceeds five million deaths worldwide, and the number of deaths continues to rise. The complications of the survivors, socio-economic implications at a global level, economic limitations in the health systems, and physical and emotional exhaustion of health personnel are detrimental. Therapeutic strategies are required to limit the evolution of the disease, improve the prognosis of critically ill patients, and, in countries with low purchasing power, create affordable alternatives that can help contain the evolution towards the severity of infected people with mild to moderate symptoms. The misinformation and myths that today are more frequent on social networks and the implementation of practices without scientific support is a problem that aggravates the general panorama. This review aims to concentrate on the best evidence for treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in a simple and summarized manner, addressing therapies from their bases to the most innovative alternatives available today. •The pathophysiological bases of classic ADRS differ significantly from those related to ARDS due to COVID-19.•The therapeutic objective based on the pathophysiological aspects could improve the clinical evolution of the affected patients.•The objectives set for oxygen saturation should be reconsidered since oxygen in high concentrations could have deleterious effects, especially in this patient population.•Extracorporeal membrane circulation should not be left aside, and early implementation could save many lives in well-selected patients.