Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often suffer from hypoxemia due to ventilation dysfunction and ventilation/perfusion mismatch, which can have a serious impact on their daily lives.
Long-term home oxygen therapy (LTOT) is an important means in the management of COPD patients. It can effectively correct hypoxemia, relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life. Next, let's discuss in detail how to conduct home oxygen therapy correctly.
I. What is long-term home oxygen therapy?
Long-term home oxygen therapy refers to a treatment method in which COPD patients receive continuous oxygen inhalation at home for at least 15 hours a day and for a duration of at least 6 months.
This oxygen therapy method aims to improve the quality of life of patients and prolong their survival period.
Long-term home oxygen therapy refers to a treatment method in which COPD patients receive continuous oxygen inhalation at home for at least 15 hours a day and for a duration of at least 6 months.
This oxygen therapy method aims to improve the quality of life of patients and prolong their survival period.
II. Which patients need oxygen therapy?
When COPD patients breathe room air, their arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) is less than or equal to 88%.
When COPD patients breathe room air at rest and their arterial oxygen saturation is 88% accompanied by symptoms such as cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, and polycythemia.
When COPD patients breathe room air, their arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) is less than or equal to 88%.
When COPD patients breathe room air at rest and their arterial oxygen saturation is 88% accompanied by symptoms such as cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, and polycythemia.
III. How to inhale oxygen effectively?
Although the standard long-term home oxygen therapy recommends inhaling oxygen 24 hours a day, in actual operation, it can be adjusted according to the patient's condition and the doctor's advice. Generally speaking, the longer the daily oxygen inhalation time is, the better the effect will be. Nighttime oxygen therapy is particularly important and can significantly improve the survival rate of COPD patients.
Although the standard long-term home oxygen therapy recommends inhaling oxygen 24 hours a day, in actual operation, it can be adjusted according to the patient's condition and the doctor's advice. Generally speaking, the longer the daily oxygen inhalation time is, the better the effect will be. Nighttime oxygen therapy is particularly important and can significantly improve the survival rate of COPD patients.
IV. Selection of oxygen therapy equipment
The main home oxygen therapy equipment includes portable oxygen concentrators, home oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and so on. When choosing, factors such as portability, oxygen supply time and stability need to be considered. For example, portable oxygen concentrators are suitable for use when going out, while home oxygen concentrators are suitable for long-term home use.
The main home oxygen therapy equipment includes portable oxygen concentrators, home oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and so on. When choosing, factors such as portability, oxygen supply time and stability need to be considered. For example, portable oxygen concentrators are suitable for use when going out, while home oxygen concentrators are suitable for long-term home use.
V. Preparations before oxygen inhalation
Clean the nostrils: Use a cotton swab dipped in clean water to clean the nostrils to ensure that the nostrils are unobstructed.
Adjust the flow rate: Adjust the oxygen flow rate of the oxygen therapy equipment according to the doctor's advice or the instruction manual. For COPD patients, single-nasal-catheter oxygen inhalation is generally recommended, and the oxygen flow rate is controlled at 1 - 2 L/min.
Clean the nostrils: Use a cotton swab dipped in clean water to clean the nostrils to ensure that the nostrils are unobstructed.
Adjust the flow rate: Adjust the oxygen flow rate of the oxygen therapy equipment according to the doctor's advice or the instruction manual. For COPD patients, single-nasal-catheter oxygen inhalation is generally recommended, and the oxygen flow rate is controlled at 1 - 2 L/min.
VI. Precautions during oxygen therapy
- Adhere to the principle of "long-term low-flow oxygen inhalation" to avoid carbon dioxide retention and respiratory depression caused by excessive oxygen flow rate.
- Pay attention to continuous oxygen use during sleep to prevent the aggravation of hypoxia during sleep.
- When obvious shortness of breath and chest tightness occur after activities, short-term high-concentration oxygen therapy can be given, but the oxygen flow rate should be reduced after the symptoms are relieved.
- Keep the humidifier bottle filled with sufficient water to maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity in the respiratory tract.
- Regularly clean and disinfect the nasal plugs, oxygen delivery catheters and other equipment to prevent cross-infection.
- When using oxygen, adjust the flow rate first and then put on the oxygen inhalation tube. When stopping oxygen, pull out the oxygen inhalation catheter first and then turn off the oxygen switch.
- Pay attention to the safety of oxygen use. Do not contact open flames or high temperatures, and smoking is prohibited indoors.
- Keep good records of oxygen therapy, including the time of oxygen therapy, oxygen flow rate, changes in symptoms, etc., and go to the hospital for regular reexaminations.
VII. Recommendations for nighttime oxygen therapy
For COPD patients who are prone to nocturnal hypoxemia, the nighttime oxygen flow rate can be adjusted according to maintaining the arterial oxygen saturation above 90%. It can be considered to maintain or appropriately increase the oxygen concentration during daytime rest to ensure the effect of nighttime oxygen therapy.
For COPD patients who are prone to nocturnal hypoxemia, the nighttime oxygen flow rate can be adjusted according to maintaining the arterial oxygen saturation above 90%. It can be considered to maintain or appropriately increase the oxygen concentration during daytime rest to ensure the effect of nighttime oxygen therapy.
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