Understanding Oxygen Therapy: Methods, Applications, and Benefits

Oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that provides supplemental oxygen to increase oxygen levels in the blood and tissues of a patient. When the body does not get enough oxygen for cellular function and survival, oxygen therapy facilitates the delivery of concentrated oxygen through nasal cannulas, face masks, or ventilators. This therapy is commonly used to treat conditions related to low blood oxygen such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and other lung diseases.

What is oxygen therapy?
Oxygen therapy, also known as supplemental oxygen therapy or oxygen treatment, involves delivering oxygen through various devices to increase the oxygen level in the blood. Normally, oxygen is inhaled through the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream, where it is transported to cells and tissues throughout the body to support cellular respiration. However, in certain medical conditions, the lungs are unable to absorb sufficient amounts of oxygen to meet the body's needs. Oxygen therapy addresses this issue by providing concentrated oxygen directly through delivery devices. Common oxygen therapy methods include:

- Nasal cannula: This involves the placement of small prongs or tubes inside the nostrils that deliver supplemental oxygen without obstructing breathing or speech. Nasal cannulas are lightweight and comfortable for continuous Oxygen Therapy.

- Face mask: Oxygen face masks cover the nose and mouth and are often used when a higher concentration of oxygen is needed compared to nasal cannulas. Face masks can deliver more oxygen but are less comfortable for prolonged use.

- Venturi mask: A type of face mask that blends oxygen with room air to deliver adjustable oxygen concentrations, these masks are more efficient than nasal cannulas for mildly low oxygen levels.

- Non-rebreather mask: This face mask seals tightly around the nose and mouth to deliver the highest concentration of oxygen possible. It is used for severe oxygen deficiency and may require high oxygen flow rates.

- High-flow nasal cannula: This delivers heated, humidified oxygen at very high flow rates through wider nasal prongs for non-invasive ventilation and respiratory support.

Role of oxygen therapy in medical conditions

Oxygen therapy plays a vital role in treating certain chronic and acute medical conditions associated with low blood oxygen levels or hypoxemia. Some common uses of supplemental oxygen therapy include:

- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis damage the lungs and impair oxygen absorption, leading to hypoxemia. Oxygen therapy improves tissue oxygenation to relieve symptoms and limit organ damage in COPD patients.

- Pneumonia: Bacterial or viral infections in the lungs cause inflammation and fill the air sacs with fluid or pus, restricting oxygen exchange. Supplemental oxygen helps support respiration until the infection clears and lung function recovers.

- Asthma: This condition involves narrowing of the airways due to swelling and mucus buildup, impairing oxygen flow into the bloodstream and tissues. Oxygen therapy dilates the airways and alleviates hypoxemia during asthma attacks.

- Congestive heart failure: When the heart cannot pump blood efficiently, fluids backs up into the lungs impairing gas exchange. Oxygen therapy supports oxygen delivery throughout the body in heart failure patients.

- Lung cancer: Malignant lung tumors or complications of treatment like surgery, radiation or chemotherapy can damage lung tissues and decrease oxygen absorption. Supplemental oxygen alleviates hypoxemia in lung cancer.

- Pulmonary fibrosis: Scarring of the lung tissues from conditions like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis reduces the lungs' ability to absorb oxygen efficiently. Oxygen therapy offsets low blood oxygen levels in pulmonary fibrosis.

- Pneumothorax: Collapsed lung resulting from a tear or hole in the pleura causes part of the lung to collapse, limiting oxygen absorption and exchange. Oxygen therapy supports respiration in pneumothorax until the lung is reinflated.

Benefits of oxygen therapy

When administered properly based on a patient's individual needs and medical condition, oxygen therapy provides the following key advantages:

- Improves oxygen saturation levels and ensures adequate oxygen delivery throughout the body to vital organs and tissues. This prevents hypoxemia and associated organ damage.

- Relieves respiratory distress and makes breathing more comfortable by dilating constricted airways and reducing lung edema/congestion.

- Minimizes breathing effort and optimizes work of breathing by boosting inspiratory oxygen concentrations.

- Enhances exercise tolerance by maintaining oxygen saturation during physical activity, which improves quality of life.

- Prevents respiratory acidosis and related complications by offsetting hypoxemia and low pH levels in blood.

- Supports healing and recovery from acute lung illnesses like pneumonia by stabilizing oxygenation until lung function rebounds.

- Delays progression of chronic lung diseases like COPD where long-term supplemental oxygen sustains respiratory health.

- Extends survival rates in medical conditions requiring oxygen supplementation as standard supportive care.

Safety and effectiveness
While oxygen therapy is usually safe when administered correctly under medical supervision, certain precautions are advised. Overly high oxygen levels in prolonged therapy can theoretically cause oxidative tissue damage. Additionally, flammability risks are present around open flames while on oxygen. Some specific effectiveness and safety factors to consider include:

- Oxygen flow rates and delivery device must suit the patient's condition to optimize benefit-risk ratio.

- Close monitoring of oxygen saturation levels guides needed oxygen concentration levels.

- Humidified oxygen helps prevent dry mucous membranes and minimizes coughing.

- Smoking and open flames must be avoided when receiving oxygen therapy due to fire/explosion hazards.

- Long-term home oxygen therapy requires ongoing maintenance of oxygen equipment and supplies.

- Non-adherence impacts outcomes, so patients must follow prescribed oxygen concentrations and schedules.

- Infection control measures minimize pneumonia risks from oxygen delivery devices.