OXYGEN THERAPY

Prepared by: Luth M. Mondano RN, MAN

 Oxygen therapy-administering supplemental oxygen to
some people who can’t get enough oxygen because of
some breathing disorders:
 Lung conditions that prevents the lungs from absorbing
oxygen, includes:
 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
 pneumonia
 asthma
 Broncho pulmonary dysplasia, underdeveloped lungs in
newborns
 heart failure
 trauma to the respiratory system
COPD- a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes
obstructed airflow from the lungs.
Pneumonia-a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection of the lungs
that causes the air sacs, or alveoli, of the lungs to fill up with
fluid or pus
Asthma-a disease of the lungs in which the airways become
blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty.
Heart failure- a condition in which the heart cannot pump
enough blood to meet the body's needs.
Trauma to the respiratory system(pulmonary contusion)-
bruised lung causes liquid to build up and restricts oxygen
flow
 Symptoms of low oxygen

 rapid breathing
 shortness of breath
 fast heart rate
 coughing or wheezing
 sweating
 confusion
 changes in the color of your skin
 To determine whether a person will benefit from oxygen therapy,
doctors test the amount of oxygen in their arterial blood.
 Another way to check is using a pulse oximeter that indirectly
measures oxygen levels, or saturation, without requiring a blood
sample.
 Low levels mean that a person may be a good candidate for
supplemental oxygen.
 Normal levels of arterial blood oxygen are between 75 and 100
mmHg (millimeters of mercury).
 An oxygen level of 60 mmHg or lower indicates the need for
supplemental oxygen
 Delivery methods of oxygen
 Oxygen is distributed from the tank through a tube.
It enters the lungs through nasal tubes, a face mask,
or a tube inserted directly into the person’s
windpipe.
 The most common delivery method is the nasal
cannula, which consists of a tube that runs through
both nostrils
Guidelines for using oxygen therapy
 Doctor will write a prescription/order to begin oxygen
therapy.
 They’ll tell you how to use it and how often you should use
it.
 This will include the flow rate, or how much oxygen you’ll
need per minute.
(Too much oxygen can be dangerous as well, and can
damage the cells in your lungs)
 An oxygen level of 60 mmHg or lower indicates the need
for supplemental oxygen.
 Do not use drugs or alcohol while taking oxygen therapy,
Safety Considerations for Oxygen Therapy

 Oxygen is not a flammable gas, it’s necessary for

combustion
 Fires in areas with excessive oxygen are likely to burn more
quickly.
 Be cautious with oxygen tanks around open flames and
heaters, and be sure to store oxygen tanks safely.
 Safety tips
 Donot smoke or have open flames in the room where a
person is using oxygen.
 Place
more fire alarms throughout the home to help
prevent serious complications.
 Whencooking, keep oxygen away from the stove, oven,
and any grease.
 Toavoid tripping over the oxygen tank or tubing, tape the
tube to the back of your shirt.
 Only store oxygen in an area where air moves freely
Thank you