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Home oxygen
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of home oxygen are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the British Thoracic Society (BTS 2015).
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Screening and diagnosis
Diagnostic investigations
Blood gas analysis: as per BTS 2015 guidelines, obtain an arterial blood gas in patients being assessed for long-term oxygen therapy.
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Pulse oximetry
Medical management
General principles: as per BTS 2015 guidelines, order long-term oxygen therapy for a minimum of 15 hours per day; up to 24 hours per day may be of additional benefit.
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Assessment of stability
Smoking cessation
Oxygen delivery device
Oxygen humidification
Oxygen carrying equipment
Nocturnal oxygen therapy
Ambulatory oxygen therapy
Palliative oxygen therapy
Short-burst oxygen therapy
Specific circumstances
Patients with COPD: as per BTS 2015 guidelines, offer long-term oxygen therapy to patients with stable COPD and a resting PaO2 ≤ 55 mmHg (7.3 kPa).
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Patients with ILD
Patients with cystic fibrosis
Patients with pulmonary hypertension
Patients with neuromuscular or chest wall disorders
Patients with HF (long-term oxygen therapy)
Patients with HF (nocturnal oxygen therapy)
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Patients who smoke
Patient education
General counseling: as per BTS 2015 guidelines, arrange for the patient to receive formal education on long-term oxygen therapy by a specialist home oxygen assessment team, in order to ensure compliance with therapy.
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Oxygen transport
Safe oxygen use
Follow-up and surveillance
Assessment of treatment response: as per BTS 2015 guidelines, obtain an arterial blood gas after oxygen titration is complete in patients under long-term oxygen therapy, in order to determine whether adequate oxygenation has been achieved without precipitating respiratory acidosis and/or worsening hypercapnia.
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Follow-up clinical assessment
Follow-up home visits