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Review
. 1998 Sep 19;317(7161):798-801.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.317.7161.798.

ABC of oxygen. Acute oxygen therapy

N T Bateman, R M Leach
Review

ABC of oxygen. Acute oxygen therapy

N T Bateman et al. BMJ. .
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Oxygen is often poorly prescibed. This drug chart was for a severely hypoxaemic patient with pneumonia and mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The risk of carbon dioxide retention was secondary to the danger of severe hypoxaemia and inadequate oxygen was life threatening
Figure
Figure
Oxygen saturation is readily measured with pulse oximeters
Figure
Figure
Fio2 depends on ventilatory minute volume and flow rate of oxygen. This is illustrated by calculating the Fio2 at a fixed oxygen flow rate of 2 l/min in a patient with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease before and after treatment
Figure
Figure
High flow oxygen masks provide the entire ventilatory requirement using a venturi valve. The port size of the valve ensures the correct proportions of oxygen and entrained air are mixed to obtain a fixed oxygen concentration. Low flow oxygen masks do not provide the entire ventilatory requirement. Air is drawn in through the loose fitting mask to supplement the oxygen flow rate
Figure
Figure
High flow oxygen mask and series of venturi valves. The flow rate of oxygen required to provide a fixed concentration of oxygen is shown on each valve
Figure
Figure
Typical low flow mask. This mask is ideal for providing high concentrations of oxygen (40-60%). The flow rate of oxygen required to achieve an approximate Fio2 is shown on the mask packaging
Figure
Figure
Non-invasive partial pressure ventilation
Figure
Figure
Correct positioning of nasal prongs
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