Longitudinal Monitoring of Lung Function in COVID-19-Induced Pneumonia [Funder: Carleton University COVID-19 Rapid Research Response Grants]

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) rapidly and non-invasively provides graphical and quantitative lung function data. Knowing where air is in the lungs during the rapid deterioration of ventilatory capacity is necessary for understanding COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We will use these funds for a longitudinal study (diagnosis to discharge) of 10 patients over the course of their stay in the hospital and/or ICU. We have two research objectives: 1) to obtain EIT data (imaging) to better understand the progressive changes in regional ventilation (pulmonary shunting) occurring in COVID-19 specific ARDS, and 2) to further develop and enhance existing software tools for the analysis of EIT data, to increase its accessibility and clinical usefulness. We will take advantage of our established collaborations with front-line physicians and nurses at The Ottawa Hospital and The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute for data collection, allowing our team to work remotely toward our goals.