Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy – is the administration of oxygen as a therapeutic modality. It is prescribed by the physician, who specifies the concentration, method of delivery, and liter flow per minute.

Benefits of Oxygen Therapy:

Additional Benefits of Oxygen Therapy:

• Increased clarity
• Relieves nausea
• Can prevent heart failure in people with severe lung disease
• Allows the bodies organs to carry out normal functions

Long-Term Benefits of Oxygen Therapy:

• Prolongs life by reducing heart strain
• Decreases shortness of breath
• Makes exercise more tolerable
• Results in fewer days of hospitalization

Oxygen Delivery Systems

1. Nasal Cannula

• Also called nasal prongs.
• Is the most common inexpensive device used to administer oxygen.
• It is easy to apply and does not interfere with the client’s ability to eat or talk.
• It delivers a relatively low concentration of oxygen which is 24% to 45% at flow rates of 2 to 6 liters per minute.

2. Face Mask

• It cover the client’s nose and mouth may be used for oxygen inhalation.
• Exhalation ports on the sides of the mask allow exhaled carbon dioxide to escape.

Types of Face Masks:

1. Simple Face Mask - Delivers oxygen concentrations from 40% to 60% at liter flows of 5 to 8 liters per minute, respectively.
2. Partial Rebreather Mask – Delivers oxygen concentration of 60% to 90% at liter flows of 6 to 10 liters per minute, respectively.
3. Non Rebreather Mask – Delivers the highest oxygen concentration possible 95% to  100% – by means other than intubation or mechanical ventilation, at liter flows of 10 to 15 liters per minute.
4. Venturi Mask – Delivers oxygen concentrations varying from 24% to 40% or 50% at liter flows of 4 to 10 liters per minute.

3. Face Tent

• It can replace oxygen masks when masks are poorly tolerated by clients.
• It provide varying concentrations of oxygen such as 30% to 50% concentration of oxygen at 4 to 8 liters per minute.

4. Transtracheal Oxygen Delivery

• It may be used for oxygen-dependent clients.
• The client requires less oxygen (0.5 to 2 liters per minute) because all of the low delivered enters the lungs.

Oxygen Therapy Safety Precautions:

1. For home oxygen use or when the facility permits smoking, teach family members and roommates to smoke only outside or in provided smoking rooms away from the client.
2. Place cautionary signs reading “No Smoking: Oxygen in use” on the clients door, at the foot or head of the bed, and on the oxygen equipment.
3. Instruct the client and visitors about the hazard of smoking with oxygen use.
4. Make sure that electric devices (such as razors, hearing aids, radios, televisions, and hearing pads) are in good working order to prevent the occurrence of short-circuit sparks.
5. Avoids materials that generate static electricity, such as woolen blankets and synthetic fabrics. Cotton blankets should be used , and client and caregivers should be advised to wear cotton fabrics.
6. Avoid the use of volatile, flammable materials such as oils, greases, alcohol, ether, and acetone(e.g. nail polish remover), near clients receiving oxygen.
7. Ground electric monitoring equipment, suction machines and portable diagnostic machines.
8. Make known the location of the fire extinguishers, and make sure personnel are trained in their use.

How to administer oxygen by mask

How to administer oxygen by nasal cannula

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