Action: Reverses the deleterious effects of hypoxemia on the brain, heart and other tissues.

Indications: Any condition that may cause hypoxic states.

Contraindications: None

Note that high concentrations may cause respiratory depression in patient’s whose stimulus to breath is a decreased oxygen level rather than an increased carbon dioxide level.

Side Effects: None when used appropriately for short periods (24 hours or less) to adults.

How Supplied: As a compressed gas in cylinders of various sizes.

Duration of flow = gauge pressure minus 200 psi times C (cylinder constants) divided by the flow rate in (L/minute).

Cylinder constants:

D = 0.16 L/psi

E = 0.26 L/psi

G = 2.41 L/psi

M = 1.56 L/psi

Administration and Dosage: Dependent on the condition being treated, for trauma and cardiac arrest and other conditions where large shunting may occur, 100% ASAP.

Incompatibility: Decreases the spontaneous combustion point of surrounding materials (supports combustion).

Device

L/minute

Delivered

Comments

Nasal Catheter

6 - 8

30 - 50

Do not use in comatose patient.

Nasal Cannula

4 - 6

25 - 40

Usually well tolerated. Device of choice when very high concentrations are not needed.

Venturi Masks:

24%

28%

35%

40%

4

4

8

8

24

28

35

40

Useful in long term treatment of patients with COPD. But of limited value in the field.

Partial Rebreathing mask

6 - 12

35 – 60

NonRebreathing mask

10 - 12

90

Device of choice for administering high concentrations of oxygen to a patient who is breathing.

Pocket mask

10 - 12

90

Preferred device for artificial ventilation of a non-breathing patient.

Bag-Valve-Mask

10 - 12

90

For artificial ventilation.

Bag-Valve-Mask with oxygen reservoir.

10 - 12

90

For artificial ventilation.

Demand valve mask

50 - 150

100

Useful principally in pulmonary edema. Contraindicated in children.