OXYGEN

THERAP
Y
OXYGEN THERAPY
it is the administration ofoxygen
at a concentration greater than
that found in the environmental
atmosphere.
Room air only contains 21%
oxygen.
The goal of oxygen therapy:
is to provide adequate oxygen
in the blood while decreasing the
work of breathing and reducing
INDICATIONS
Hypoxemia
Hypoxia
 Hypoxemia
Changes in mental
status(impaired judgment,
agitation, disorientation,
confusion, lethargy and coma)
Dyspnea
Increase BP
HR changes
Dysrhythmias
Diaphoresis
Cool extremeties
 Hypoxia
Can be life threatening
Fatigue
Drowsiness
Apathy
Inattentiveness
Delayed reaction time
COMPLICATIONS
Oxygen toxicity
may occur when too high a
concentration of oxygen
(Greater than 50%) is
administered for an extended
period (longer than 48 hours)
 Signs and Symptoms
Substernal discomfort
Paresthesias
Dyspnea
Fatigue
Malaise
Restlessness
Alveolar infiltrates on chest x-rays
Progressive respiratory difficulty
Refractory hypoxemia
Alveolar atelectasis
 Antioxidants
vitamin E and C
beta carotene

PEEP
CPAP
To reverse or prevent
micoatelectasis
Other complications..
Danger of fire
Bacterial cross-infection
METHODS OF OXYGEN
ADMINISTRATION
Oxygen delivery systems are
classified as:
Low flow systems
contribute partially to the
inspired gas the patient breathes
High flow
provide total inspired air
Low-flow systems
Nasal cannula
Oropharyngeal catheter
Oxygen masks
simple masks
partial rebreather masks
non rebreather masks
 Oropharyngeal
Nasal canulla catheter

Simple mask Non rebreather mask

High-flow systems
Transtracheal catheters
Venturi masks
Aerosol masks
Trancheotomy collars
T pieces
Face tents
Venturi Transtracheal
masks oxgen catheter
Tracheotomy
collar
Aerosol masks
Face tents

T pieces
Nasal cannula
Low to medium concentration of
oxygen
Allows patient to move in bed,
talk, cough, and eat with out
interrupting oxygen flow
> 6 to 8 L/min leads to
swallowing of air
Oropharyngeal catheter
Rarely used
Short term therapy
Low to moderate
concentration
Changed every 8 hours
Simple masks
Low to moderate concentrations of
oxygen
Widely used
Cannot be used for controlled oxygen
concentration
Adjusted for proper fit
It has adjustable elastic bands
Partial rebreathing masks
It has reservoir bag
High concentration of oxygen
Non rebreathing masks
Similar design to partial
rebreathing masks
Additional valves
Possible to supply 100% oxygen
Venturi masks
Most reliable ; accurate method
Used primarily for COPD patients
Used the Bernoulli principle
Transtracheal oxygen
catheter
Inserted directly into the trachea
Indicated to patients with chronic
oxygen therapy needs
More comfortable
Less dependent on breathing pattern
Less obvious
Patient achieves adequate
oxygenation at lower rates
T-piece
Connects to the endotracheal
tube
useful in weaning patients from
mechanical ventilator.
 Other oxygen devices
include aerosol masks,
trancheotomy collars and
face tents

Used with aerosol devices that

can be adjusted for oxygen
concentrations from 27% to
100%.
 New methods of
oxygen conservation
DODS
Demand oxygen delivery system
Conserve oxygen and maintain
o2 sat better than continuous
flow oxygen systems when RR
increases.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Administration of oxygen at
pressures greater than 1 atm.
Treat embolism, carbon
monoxide poisoning, gangrene,
tissue necrosis, hemorrhage
Side effects: ear trauma, CNS
disorders, oxygen toxicity and
claustrophobia
Nursing management
Teaching patients self care
Continuing care