Oxygen Therapy

Question 1

Differentiate between hypoxia and hypoxaemia

Answer 1

Hypoxia - Deficiency of oxygen reaching tissues.

Hypoxaemia - Abnormally low concentration of oxygen in blood.

Question 2

What are the most sensitive organs to hypoxia? How may this present?

Answer 2

Brain and eyes. Brain dysfunction, visual disturbances, syncope and poor hand to eye coordination ect

Question 3

What are the 5 vital signs?

Answer 3

• Temperature,
• Heart rate,
• Blood pressure,
• Respiratory rate
• Oxygen saturation

Question 4

What is the target oxygen saturation for most acutely ill patients?

Answer 4

94-98%

Question 5

What is the target oxygen saturation for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure?

Answer 5

88-92%

Question 6

What is hypercapnic RF?

Answer 6

Abnormally elevated concentrations of CO2

Question 7

What two clinical conditions is it suggested for oxygen therapy despite absence of low oxygen saturation?

Answer 7

Carbon monoxide poisoning as monitor can’t tell the difference between oxyhaemoglobin and carboxyhaemoglobin.

And cardiopulmonary resuscitation until spontaneous circulation has occured.

Question 8

Where should the ball of a flow meter device sit to correctly deliver the required
amount of oxygen?

Answer 8

The centre of the ball should be aligned with the

appropriate flow rate marking.

Question 9

In addition to the patient’s identity, date and signature of the clinician what 3
other details should be clearly outlined in all prescriptions for oxygen?

Answer 9

• Saturation target
• Initial mode of delivery
• Flow rate