Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen therapy
Objectives:Objectives: Understand the reasons for requiring Understand the reasons for requiring
oxygen therapy.oxygen therapy. Be able to set up oxygen equipment.Be able to set up oxygen equipment.
Oxygen therapy
Oxygen is required for the functioning Oxygen is required for the functioning and survival of all body tissues and and survival of all body tissues and deprivation for more than a few minutes deprivation for more than a few minutes is fatal. is fatal.
Oxygen therapy
In immediately life threatening situations In immediately life threatening situations oxygen should be administered.oxygen should be administered.
Local policies will reflect when oxygen Local policies will reflect when oxygen that has not been prescribed may be that has not been prescribed may be administered and by whom.administered and by whom.
Oxygen therapy
When to use oxygen therapy?When to use oxygen therapy? Hypoxaemia.Hypoxaemia. Acute hypotension.Acute hypotension. Breathing inadequacy.Breathing inadequacy. Trauma.Trauma. Acute illness.Acute illness. CO poisoning.CO poisoning. Severe anaemia.Severe anaemia. During the peri-operative period.During the peri-operative period.
Oxygen therapy
To ensure safe and effective treatment To ensure safe and effective treatment remember:remember:
Oxygen is a prescription drug.Oxygen is a prescription drug. Prescriptions should include – Prescriptions should include –
1.1. Flow rate.Flow rate.
2.2. Delivery system.Delivery system.
3.3. Duration.Duration.
4.4. Instructions for monitoring.Instructions for monitoring.
Oxygen therapy
Oxygen delivery methods:Oxygen delivery methods: All systems require.All systems require.
1.1. Oxygen supply.Oxygen supply.
2.2. Flow meter.Flow meter.
3.3. Oxygen tubing.Oxygen tubing.
4.4. Delivery device.Delivery device.
5.5. (Humidifier).(Humidifier).
Oxygen therapy
Delivery devices:Delivery devices: Non-rebreathing mask. Non-rebreathing mask. Simple facemask.Simple facemask. Nasal cannulae (nasal Nasal cannulae (nasal
prongs/speculae).prongs/speculae). Venturi mask.Venturi mask.
Oxygen therapy
Non-rebreathing maskNon-rebreathing mask Allows the delivery of high concentrations of Allows the delivery of high concentrations of
oxygen (85% at 15 litres/min).oxygen (85% at 15 litres/min). Has a reservoir bag to entrain oxygen.Has a reservoir bag to entrain oxygen. One way valves prevent room and expired air One way valves prevent room and expired air
from diluting the oxygen concentration.from diluting the oxygen concentration. A tight seal is essential.A tight seal is essential. Reservoir bag must be seen to expand freely.Reservoir bag must be seen to expand freely.
Oxygen therapy
Simple facemaskSimple facemask Easy to use.Easy to use. Allows administration of variable Allows administration of variable
concentration dependant on flow of concentration dependant on flow of fresh gas up to 40%.fresh gas up to 40%.
Requires a good fit.Requires a good fit.
Oxygen therapy
Nasal cannulaeNasal cannulae Easy to use.Easy to use. Well tolerated.Well tolerated. Comfortable for long periods.Comfortable for long periods. Patient can eat and talk easily.Patient can eat and talk easily. Possible to deliver oxygen concentrations of 24-Possible to deliver oxygen concentrations of 24-
40% at flow rates of 1-6 litres/min.40% at flow rates of 1-6 litres/min. Flow rates in excess of 4 litres/min might cause Flow rates in excess of 4 litres/min might cause
discomfort and drying of mucous membranes discomfort and drying of mucous membranes and are best avoided.and are best avoided.
Oxygen therapy
Venturi maskVenturi mask Mixes a specific volume of air and oxygen.Mixes a specific volume of air and oxygen. Useful for accurately delivering low Useful for accurately delivering low
concentrations of oxygen.concentrations of oxygen. Valves are colour coded and flow rate Valves are colour coded and flow rate
required to deliver a fixed concentration is required to deliver a fixed concentration is shown on each valve.shown on each valve.
Can deliver oxygen concentrations between Can deliver oxygen concentrations between 24-60%. 24-60%.
Oxygen therapy
HumidificationHumidification Is recommended if more than 4 Is recommended if more than 4
litres/min is delivered.litres/min is delivered. Helps prevent drying of mucous Helps prevent drying of mucous
membranes.membranes. Helps prevent the formation of Helps prevent the formation of
tenacious sputum.tenacious sputum.
Oxygen therapy
Oxygen concentrations will be affected Oxygen concentrations will be affected with all delivery systems if not fitted with all delivery systems if not fitted correctly or tubing becomes kinked and correctly or tubing becomes kinked and ports obstructed.ports obstructed.
Oxygen therapy
Information to patient.Information to patient. Support and reassurance.Support and reassurance. Confidence and complianceConfidence and compliance..
Dangers of oxygen therapy
Ignition hazard.Ignition hazard. Risk of respiratory depression in some Risk of respiratory depression in some
patients with COPD if high patients with COPD if high concentrations of oxygen administered concentrations of oxygen administered (CO2 retainers).(CO2 retainers).
Oxygen Therapy
SummarySummary
Oxygen therapy can be life saving Oxygen therapy can be life saving therapy.therapy.
Treat like any other drug.Treat like any other drug. Be familiar with the principles of oxygen Be familiar with the principles of oxygen
delivery and different devicesdelivery and different devices
