Provision of oxygen
1. To prevent or correct hypoxemia or tissue hypoxia.
2. High concentrations of oxygen may be indicated for conditions requiring removal of entrapped gas (eg, nitrogen) from body cavities or vessels.
The short-term inhalation of increased concentrations of oxygen is relatively free of complications.
Use a bubble-diffuser humidifier to bring the percentage of inspired gas up to room humidity (30–40% of relative humidity [RH]) when using the nasal cannula, simple oxygen mask, partial rebreathing mask, or nonrebreathing mask.
| Device | O2 Range | L/min | Fio2 | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal cannula | Low | 1–6 | 0.24–0.5 | COPD, general oxygen needs |
| Simple face mask | Medium | 6–8 | 0.5–0.6 | General oxygen needs |
| Partial rebreathing face mask | High | 8–12 | 0.6–0.7 | High oxygen emergency needs |
| Nonrebreathing face mask | High | 8–12 | 0.7–0.95 | High oxygen emergency needs |
| Venturi mask | Low–medium | — | 0.24–0.50 | COPD (can specify exact Fio2) |