Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy involves administering oxygen as a medical intervention, serving various purposes in both chronic and acute patient care. Oxygen is vital for cell metabolism, and consequently, tissue oxygenation is crucial for all normal physiological functions.

Normal room air comprises only 21% oxygen, and increasing the oxygen fraction in the breathing gas enhances the oxygen content in the blood. Often, it's sufficient to elevate the oxygen fraction delivered to 30–35%, achieved through a nasal cannula. In cases requiring 100% oxygen, it can be administered through a well-fitted face mask or by supplying it directly to an incubator for infants. Additionally, oxygen can be delivered in specialized treatments involving elevated air pressure, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Elevated levels of oxygen in the blood and tissues can either be beneficial or harmful, depending on the circumstances. Oxygen therapy should be employed to benefit the patient by augmenting the supply of oxygen to the lungs, thereby enhancing oxygen availability to the body tissues, especially in cases of hypoxia and/or hypoxemia.

Oxygen serves as a medical treatment for both chronic and acute conditions, applicable in hospital, pre-hospital, or entirely out-of-hospital settings, depending on patient needs and medical professional recommendations.

A frequent application of supplemental oxygen is in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common consequence of smoking, who may require additional oxygen during exacerbations of their condition or continuously throughout the day and night. It's indicated for COPD patients with PaO2 ≤ 55mmHg or SaO2 ≤ 88% and has been demonstrated to prolong lifespan.

Oxygen is extensively utilized in emergency medicine, whether in hospital settings or by emergency medical services or advanced first responders.

In pre-hospital settings, high-flow oxygen is clearly indicated for use in resuscitation, major trauma, anaphylaxis, severe hemorrhage, shock, active seizures, and hypothermia.

It may also be warranted for any patient experiencing hypoxemia due to injury or illness, although oxygen flow should be adjusted to achieve target oxygen saturation levels, monitored using pulse oximetry (with a target level of 94–98% in most patients or 88–92% in COPD patients).

For personal use, high-concentration oxygen is employed as home therapy to alleviate cluster headache attacks owing to its vasoconstrictive effects. Oxygen can be obtained through various methods, including chemical reactions and fractional distillation, and can either be used immediately or stored for future use.