Question reference: S6W-06178
- Asked by: Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 4 February 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 21 February 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether full face masks are being used as an alternative for people who may experience anxiety with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks whilst in HDU and ICU with COVID-19.
Answer
The current guidance can be found on the Central Alerting System (CAS). In the largest clinical trial (RECOVERY RS) CPAP reduced the risk of death or intubation (need to go on a ventilator). CPAP can be delivered via a tight fitting facemask, helmet or hood. Smaller clinical trials of helmet/hood CPAP have suggested that it may have equivalent benefit to facemask CPAP but more data analysis is planned. High flow nasal oxygen is a form of non-invasive respiratory support which can be used to facilitate breaks from CPAP and is better tolerated (more comfortable) than CPAP, but doesn’t improve outcome on its own. Whether facemasks, helmets or hoods are used in clinical practice is a decision left to individual boards and units, however they can be ordered if needed and many boards stock them routinely.