Oxygen Therapy Health Article

Risks

Oxygen is not addictive and causes no side effects when used as prescribed. Complications from oxygen therapy used in appropriate situations are infrequent. Respiratory depression, oxygen toxicity, and absorption atelectasis are the most serious complications of oxygen overuse.

A physician should be notified and emergency services may be required if the following symptoms develop:

• frequent headaches
• anxiety
• cyanotic (blue) lips or fingernails
• drowsiness
• confusion
• restlessness
• slow, shallow, difficult, or irregular breathing

Oxygen delivery equipment may present other problems. Perforation of the nasal septum as a result of using a nasal cannula and non–humidified oxygen has been reported. In addition, bacterial contamination of nebulizer and humidification systems can occur, possibly leading to the spread of pneumonia. High-flow systems that employ heated humidifiers and aerosol generators, especially when used by patients with artificial airways, also pose a risk of infection.

Normal results

A normal result is a patient that demonstrates adequate oxygenation through pulse oximetry, blood gas tests, and clinical observation. Signs and symptoms of inadequate oxygenation include cyanosis, drowsiness, confusion, restlessness, anxiety, or slow, shallow, difficult, or irregular breathing. Patients with obstructive airway disease may exhibit "aerophagia" (air hunger) as they work to pull air into the lungs. In cases of carbon monoxide inhalation, the oxygen saturation can be falsely elevated.

BOOKS

Branson, Richard, et al. Respiratory Care Equipment 2nd. ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers, 1999.

Hyatt, Robert E., Paul D. Scanlon, Masao Nakamura,. Interpretation of Pulmonary Function Tests: A Practical Guide, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Publishers, 2003.

Wilkins, Robert, et al. Clinical Assessment in Respiratory Care, 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 2000.

Wilkins, Robert, et al. Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Care, 8th ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 2003.

Yutsis, Pavel I. Oxygen to the Rescue: Oxygen Therapies and How They Help Overcome Disease, Promote Repair, and Improve Overall Function. Basic Health Publications, Inc., 2003.

PERIODICALS

Crockett, A. J., J.M. Cranston, et al. "A Review of Long-term Oxygen Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease." Respiratory Medicine 95 (June 2001): 437-43.

Eaton, T.E., et al. "An Evaluation of Short-term Oxygen Therapy: The Prescription of Oxygen to Patients with Chronic Lung Disease Hypoxic at Discharge." Respiratory Medicine 95 (July 2001): 582-7.

Kelly, Martin G., et al. "Nasal Septal Perforation and Oxygen Cannulae." Hospital Medicine 62, no.4 (April 2001): 248.

Ruiz-Bailen M, M.C. Serrano-Corcoles, J.A. Ramos-Cuadra "Tracheal Injury Caused by Ingested Paraquat." Chest 119, no.6 (June 2001): 1956-7.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Association for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). 7600 Terrace Avenue, Suite 203, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562. (608) 831-6989. E-mail: aacvpr@tmahq.com. <http://www.aacvpr.org>.

American Association for Respiratory Care. 11030 Ables Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229. (972) 243-2272. E-mail: info@aarc.org. <http://www.aarc.org>.

American College of Chest Physicians. 3300 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-2348. (847) 498-1400. <http://www.chestnet.org>.

American Lung Association and American Thoracic Society. 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-4374. (800) LUNG-USA or (800) 586-4872. <http://www.lungusa.org>.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Information Center. P.O. Box 30105, Bethesda, Maryland 20824. (301) 251-2222. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/>.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Lung-Line. 14090 Jackson Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. <http://www.nationaljewish.org>.

OTHER

Daily Lung. <http://www.dailylung.com>. A full-feature magazine covering lung disease and related health topics.

National Lung Health Education Program. <http://www.nlhep.org>.

The Pulmonary Paper. P.O. Box 877, Ormond Beach, Florida 32175. (800) 950-3698. <http://www.pulmonarypaper.org>. Not-for-profit newsletter supporting people with chronic lung problems.

Maggie Boleyn, R.N., B.S.N.
Angela M. Costello