Adequacy assessment of oxygen therapy.

OBJECTIVES

Oxygen administration in the wards is usually not according to prescription and therefore the patients requiring oxygen therapy does not get optimal benefits. We planned to assess the need and adequacy of oxygen therapy as was given in wards of SMS Hospital, Jaipur.

METHODOLOGY

We studied sixty-six patients in medical and surgical wards who were receiving oxygen therapy through various modes of delivery. Oxygen therapy system was checked in detail and oxygen saturation (SaO2) was measured by pulse oximetery.

RESULTS

In our study, we found that no oxygen was flowing from cylinder head in 24 cases (35.5%) while in another 23 cases (35.2%) oxygen was flowing at lower than prescribed flow rates. Leakage in tubes and connections were found in nine cases (13.4%). None of our case was receiving oxygen as per prescription. After correction of faults, all patients showed improvement in SaO2. The criteria of starting oxygen therapy were met only in 47 patients (69%) as per American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).

CONCLUSIONS

Oxygen therapy should be administered according to guidelines. Proper monitoring of oxygen therapy is recommended to ensure adequate oxygenation and to save precious oxygen from wastage. Pulse oximeter is a simple, noninvasive and reliable method to assess it.