This study is meant to assess the lung mechanics in SARS-CoV-2 induced acute respiratory failure. A precise characterisation of lung mechanics and heart-lung-interactions might allow a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 induced acute respiratory failure and thus lead to better mechanical ventilation strategies.

This monocentric, observational study of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU, will employ impedance tomography, right-heart catheterization, oesophageal pressure measurements, indirect calorimetry as well as classic mechanical ventilation parameters to characterise the mechanical characteristics of the lung as well as the heart-lung interactions in SARS-CoV-2 induced acute respiratory failure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Moderate to Severe ARDS after Berlin Classification at PEEP 5
• Admission to the Institute of Intensive Care of the University Hospital Zurich
• Invasive Mechanical Ventilation
• Signed Study Informed Consent or emergency procedure according to article 30 HFG

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or breast feeding patients
• Age <18 years
• Presumed rejection of the study intervention

The project population targeted with this research, consists of a critically ill COVID-19 diagnosed population being admitted to the Institute of Intensive Care of the University Hospital Zurich and treated with mechanical ventilation.