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Review
. 2022 Jun;89(6):607-615.
doi: 10.1007/s12098-021-03978-0. Epub 2022 Jan 14.

Medical Oxygen: A Lifesaving Drug During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Source and Distribution

Javed Ismail  1 , Arun Bansal  2
Affiliations
Review

Medical Oxygen: A Lifesaving Drug During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Source and Distribution

Javed Ismail et al. Indian J Pediatr. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Oxygen is an essential lifesaving medicine used for several indications at all levels of health care. The COVID-19 pandemic and its recent second wave have resulted in a surge in demand for necessary resources, including trained staff, hospital beds, and medical supplies like oxygen. Limited availability of these resources resulted in added risk of adverse outcomes. Also, the widespread unregulated use of oxygen by the general public in household settings poses safety concerns. This review focuses on sources of medical oxygen like cryogenic oxygen plants, pressure swing adsorption, oxygen concentrators, and oxygen cylinders. Their specifications, storage, distribution within healthcare settings, regulation, and safety concerns have been considered. Resources needed for calculating oxygen demand, surge planning, identifying the suitable source, and distribution systems for different settings have been detailed. This review aims to help the hospital administrators, biomedical engineers, and clinicians plan and rationalize oxygen usage in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cryogenic distillation; Medical oxygen; Oxygen concentrators; Oxygen cylinders; Pressure swing adsorption.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Illustration of cryogenic fractional distillation of air to produce medical oxygen
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Liquid oxygen for transport in cryogenic tankers, b Cryogenic tanks for liquid oxygen storage in industry and, c hospital use, d Control panel for liquid oxygen plant
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Illustration of pressure swing adsorption plant, b PSA plant installed in a hospital
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a Illustration of oxygen concentrator circuit [5], b Commonly available oxygen concentrator devices
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Oxygen cylinders of different capacities—as compressed gas in high pressure cylinders
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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